













' 




OR'r WASHINGTON at 






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Cincinnati, Ohio. A brief 




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Account NOW FOR THE FIRST 




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TIME given by Rok. Ralston 




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Jones. 












Class. 
Book. 



£151 



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Alto-Relievo OF" Washington, 

n» THE DRAKE! BOUSK, ON THE SITE OP FORT WASHINOXOM, 
CINCINNATI, OHIO. 



FORT -^WASHINGTON 



AT CINCINNATI, OHIO. 



ROBT. RMLSTOM JONES. 



Published by the Society of Colonial IV a r s 



in the State of Ohio. 



f 90s . 



^"4^^^ 



,e 5 3 ^ 



TO MR. HERBERT JENNEY, 

GOVERNOR OF THE SOCIETY OF COI^ONIAL, WARS 
IN THE STATE OF OHIO. 

Through whose personal efforts the plan for marking the site of Fort 
Washington, at Cincinnati, was successfully carried out, this paper is 
respectfully dedicated. 

. ROBT. RAI,STON JONES, 

CINCINNATI, OHIO, '' \ • 

JUNE 1ST, 1902. •••"* 

/ </ i" ■ y -! 

/o 




ORT WASHINGTON at Cincinnati 
was designed primarily for the pro- 
tection of the settlers in the Miami 
Country, that is, the region in 
southwestern Ohio, lying between 
the Little Miami and Great Miami 
rivers, distant from each other, as 
measured along the meanders of the 
Ohio, about twenty-seven miles. 
Two years had not elapsed after the close 
of the Revolution, before the Ohio valley wit- 
nessed a most remarkable immigration. Through 
the shadows of the tangled forest, over the dangerous 
mountain trail, and down past the rocks and shallows 
of an unknown river, by wagon and on foot, in rude 
flatboat and frail canoe, these pioneers came into the 
valley of the "Beautiful River." The true story of 
their sufferings has been but imperfectly recorded ; 
their achievements, however, speak for themselves. 
They vanquished the wilderness, they built up a free 
state, they founded homes, not for their children alone, 
but for all the oppressed peoples of the earth. The 
chief actors in this drama could not grasp the mag- 
nificence of the scheme which they unfolded ; but, with 
rare faith and courage, these simple-hearted men and 
women performed the homely duties nearest at hand ; 
they took the rifle and the axe, the plowshare and the 
sword, and made the wilderness to blossom like a rose. 
Settlements sprang up like the magic plants which grow 
at the bidding of an eastern juggler; but, where these 



pioneers of the valley came, there also followed the 
schoolhouse and the church, fit emblems of time and 
immortality. 

A special impetus was given immigration to the 
region north of the river Ohio by the passage of the 
Ordinance of 1787, which provided for the erection of 
the North-west Territory. 

The exodus to Ohio from the eastern states then 
attained such large proportions, that means were em- 
ployed to arrest it. 

In Massachusetts, penny pamphlets were issued, 
filled with cartoons intended to ridicule the western 
movement. 

One such cartoon gave the meeting of two men on 
horseback; the one "stout, ruddy, well dressed, on 
a sleek fat horse," and labeled "I am going to 
Ohio." The other man was thin, scantily dressed, 
and bestrode a perfect "crowbait" of a horse. This was 
marked "I have been to Ohio" (i). Ridicule is a 
sharp weapon, but in this case it did not suffice to 
check the onward march of emigration. 

The year 1788 witnessed the founding by New 
Englanders of a settlement at the mouth of the Mus- 
kingum River, April 7, which v/as named Marietta, in 
honor of the unhappy Queen of France. This settle- 
ment, filled with a spirit of enlightened freedom, recog- 
nizing as did the early colonies in New England, the 
benefits which come from educational and religious ad- 
vancement, flourished and grew to exert a tremendous 
power for good in all that later transpired in the Terri- 
tory North-west of the river Ohio. 

In July of the same year a colony which had been 



(1.) Discourse of Mr. Timothy Walker, Ohio HisU. & Philos. Soc- 
Trans. Part 11, vol. 1, p. 195. 




JT7DQE3 John Cleves Symmes, 

PROPRIETOR OF THE LANDS ABOUT FORT WASHINGTON. 

From engraving in possession of his great granddaughter, 
Mrs. Betty Harrison Eaton, of North Bend, Ohio. 

John Cleves Symmes, born was on Long Island, N. Y , July 21, 1742; 
but removed to New Jersey, from which state he entered the Revolution- 
ary Army as Colonel of the 3d. Battalion Sussex County New Jersey 
Militia. Resigned from army to accept the appointment of Justice of the 
Supreme Court of New Jersey. While still holding position on Supreme 
Bench he was delegate to Continental Congress 17H4-.5. He had also served 
as I.,ieutenant-Governor and member of the Council. He married a daugh- 
ter of Governor William Ivivnngston of New Jersey, and resided at Newton, 
N. J. While on the bench he presided (1782) at the famous trial of James 
Morgan the murderer of the patriot, Reverend James Caldwell. *Judge 
Symmes obtained in August 1787, a grant from Congress for the purchase 
of one million acres of land, lying between the Miamis and bordered on 
the south by the Ohio River. After many complications and difficulties, 
this amount was reduced to between three and four hundred thousand 
acres. Judge .Symmes removed with his family to the Northwest Territory, 
of which he was appointed one of the judges in 1788. He died in Cincin- 
nati, February 2<), 1814. 



organized by John Cleves Symmes of New Jersey 
for settlement in the Miami Country, set out from' 
Elizabethtown, and proceeded overland to what was 
then called ^'Redstone Old Fort," now Brownsville 
Pennsylvania, on the Monongahela River. When the 
expedition departed by river from Redstone, it num- 
bered about thirty persons, prominent among them be- 
ing Captain Benjamin Stites, to whom belongs the honor 
of having personally explored the valleys of the Little 
and Great Miami rivers, two years before. 

It was eminently fitting that Captain Stites, hav- 
ing been the explorer of the Miami Country, and hav- 
ing first urged upon Judge Symmes the natural 
advantages of the two valleys, should receive warrant 
No. I of the Miami Purchase. This warrant, which 
bore date of December 7, 1787, called for 640 acres of 
land " at the point betwixt the mouth of the Little 
Miami and the Ohio in the pint." 

The little colony of Judge Symmes sailed down 
the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, landing about 
August 24 at Fort Harmar. At this point their 
movements are noted in the journal of a gallant young 
ofificer of the garrison, who remarks as follows: "Judge 
Symmes, with several boats and families, arrived on 
their way to his new purchase on the Miami. Has a 
daughter (Polly) along. They lodge with General 
and Mrs. Harmar. Stay three days and depart. If 
not mistaken. Miss Symmes will make a fine woman. 
An amiable disposition and highly cultivated mind 
about to be buried in the wilderness" (2). The 
writer of this journal, having spent the winter of 
1785-86 in Fort Finney, at the lower end of the 
Symmes purchase, was well qualified to give an 

( 2. ) Military Journal of Major Ebenezer Denny. 

3 



opinion on the character of the surroundings in which 
Miss Symmes would soon be placed. 

The little party of colonists, after a rest of several 
days, left Marietta about August 27, and proceeded to 
Limestone (now Maysville, Ky.), where a block- 
house had been built, and a brisk little settlement had 
sprung up four years previously. Limestone at this 
time, and for some years afterwards, was the port of 
entry for the country about Lexington, in the blue 
grass region. Lexington had acquired some note as 
early as 1779, and the road which led out to it from 
Limestone went over an ancient "Buffalo trace," 
remains of which can still be seen. 

Judge Symmes after a short stop at Limestone, 
where he left his family, pushed on to the present site 
of Cincinnati, arriving there on the 22nd of Septem- 
ber (3). He at once began the exploration of the back 
country, so far as the northern line of the fifth 
range of townships, and extending westward to 
the Great Miami. He even started on the descent of 
that stream, but having been deserted by his escort, 
was forced to return to the place of his original disem- 
barkation opposite the mouth of the Licking River. 
He soon after returned to Limestone, where he re- 
mained for several months. 

Captain Stites, after spending more than two 
months in preparation for building, by sawing out 
lumber for the cabins, set out from Limestone on 
November 16, and reached the locality mentioned in 
his land warrant on November 18, landing at a point a 
little below the mouth of the Little Miami River. On 
the next day the colonists set to work with great 
activity, building cabins and several blockhouses. The 

(3.) lyCtter from John Cleves Svrames to Jonathan Dayton, October 
22, 1788. 



location of the first blockhouse erected by Captain 
Stites's party has been fully identified by the writer as 
being on Sec. 29, Tp. 5. It stood on the bank of the 
Ohio River, at a point about one-half mile below the 
mouth of the Little Miami. The blockhouse was 
about eighteen feet wide and twenty-four feet long, 
built of large round logs. It survived the ravages of 
time until April 25, 1838, when it was undermined 
during a time of flood, by the swells from passing 
steamers (4). 

The low-lying plain on which the Columbia col- 
onists first established themselves was exceedingly 
fertile, a portion of it known as Turkey Bottom hav- 
ing been cultivated for years by the Indians. The 
ground was, however, not well chosen for a town site, 
as it was overflowed in the spring following the coming 
of the colonists; and in later years the freshets of win- 
ter and spring have covered a large portion of the plain. 

With the exception of a few scattered houses, this 
early settlement has been crowded back upon the high- 
er ground to the northwest of the site originally se- 
lected. 

In a little more than a month after Captain Stites 
and his party disembarked near the Little Maimi, a 
small party landed in Yeatman's Cove, at what would 
now be the foot of Sycamore Street in Cincinnati. 
This settlement, which took place on the 28th of Dec- 
ember, 1788, was made upon land which Matthias 
Denman of New Jersey, one of the associates of Judge 
Symmes, had contracted for as his portion of the Miami 
Purchase. 

The site was well chosen, the higher banks rising 
above the reach of floods while a range of lofty hills 

( i. ) See Appendix I for origrinal narrative of Mr. Thomas Gregory. 

5 



enclosed a large amphitheater of comparatively level 
ground, then covered by a dense growth of timber. 
The clear waters of Deer Creek on the east, and Mill 
Creek on the west, flowed down to the Ohio through 
beautiful little valleys bordering the site of the town. 

The country was dry, healthful, and well watered, 
while the virgin forest on every side furnished a more 
than sufficient supply of building material. Nearly op- 
posite the landing place lay the mouth of a rapid little 
stream (the Licking), navigable, however, in high water, 
which rose amid the distant hills of central Kentucky 
then the nearest settled country to the southward. 

Judge Symmes was obliged to remain at Lime- 
stone far longer than he desired. Christmas and New 
Year had both passed and still he prolonged his stay, 
the weather meanwhile growing more and more in- 
clement, and the dangers of navigation becoming in 
tensified by reason of the ice with which the Ohio 
River was filled. 

This delay appears to have been made in order to 
give time for the conclusion of treaties with the Indians, 
then in progress at Fort Harmar; or, if the treaties 
should fail of successful termination, then to secure 
military protection for the settlers on the Miami. On 
the 22nd of September, Lieutenant Kersey arrived at 
Fort Harmar with forty-eight recruits from New Jer- 
sey. Early in December the greater portion of this 
force was dispatched to Limestone, where they arrived 
December 12, and where at Judge Symmes's request, a 
sergeant with eighteen privates was detached and sent 
down to protect the settlement which had been made 
by Captain Stites at Columbia. In the latter part of 
the same month, a company of settlers from the upper 
portion of the Ohio River started from Limestone, in- 
tending to occupy the buildings at Fort Finney near 

6 



the Great Miami River, This was a work which had 
been erected by the troops in 1785, and later evacuated 
when the fort near Jeffersonville was erected. The 
company, however, after great peril from the ice, man- 
aged to land at the Columbia settlement and abandon- 
ed their original plans. 

The treaty at Fort Harmar was signed on the 
9th of January, 1789, and on the 29th of the same 
month Judge Symmes with his own family and those 
who remained of the families of other settlers who had 
already gone forward, set out with Lieutenant Kersey's 
(5) command for the mouth of the Great Miami. 

After a long voyage, rendered somewhat danger- 
ous by the ice in the river, the party was forced to 
disembark on the 2nd of February, at North Bend, 
about six miles above the spot originally chosen for 
settlement. At this time the land immediately about 
the mouth of the Great Miami River was covered by 
the waters of a winter freshet. 

Judge Symmes who was the original promoter of 
the scheme for settling the Miami Country had pro- 
jected his city upon a peninsula lying between the 
Ohio and Great Miami rivers. It was thus located 
that it might control the commerce of the latter stream, 
for Judge Symmes mistrusted that the trade of the 
Ohio might pass without halting at his settlement. 
The first site proposed for this city on the Miami was 
directly at the junction of the two rivers, upon land as 
low and probably as fertile as that on which Colum- 
bia was first built. When Judge Symmes, soon after 

( 5. ) Military Journal of Ebenezer Denny. 

I<ieutenant (later Major) William Kersey was from New Jersey, which 
in the first regiment organized for the defense of the western frontier, had 
contributed one company. In this company. Kersey was an ensign. He 
had served more than seven years in the Continental Army, rising from 
his position as private in the ranks in 177tt to be captain at the close of the 
war In the Army of the United States he rose from an ensigncy in nm, 
to be lieutenant, captain, and major. Major Kersey died in the service 
March 21, 1800. 



his arrival at North Bend, visited in a boat the mouth 
of the Miami, he found to his chagrin, that although 
the flood had subsided some fifteen feet from its high- 
est level, it still covered the site he so much coveted. 

It was evident, therefore, that a new site must be 
selected, and accordingly a plan was laid out which 
stretched across the neck of land, northwestward from 
North Bend to the Great Miami. The general surface 
of this region was somewhat irregular and cut up by 
ravines and small water courses, while the portion 
nearest North Bend and bordering the Ohio was hem- 
med in by high hills which left but a scanty foothold 
at their base. 

When spring opened in the year 1789, there were, 
as has been shown, three small settlements stretched 
for about twenty-one miles along that portion of the 
Miami Country which fronts the Ohio River (6). 

The settlement at Columbia, the earliest of the 
three, enjoyed the protection of several blockhouses; 
but the settlers were obliged to depend entirely upon 
their own efforts for defense as the small detachment 
of Lieutenant Kersey's command, which had for a time 
remained with them, was withdrawn when Judge 
Symmes arrived from Limestone early in February. 

North Bend, as shown by the correspondence be- 
tween John Cleves Symmes and Jonathan Dayton (7), 
also had a blockhouse at this time, with a guard of 
twelve effective men, under command of Ensign Luce 
(8). This detachment included nominally eighteen 
privates, but some were disabled by sickness, besides 
which there were one or two desertions and some 
deaths at the hands of the Indians. 

( 6. ) See Appendix II. 

( 7. ) I,etter of John Cleves Symmes to Jonathan Dayton, July 17, 1789. 

( 8. ) The name of Frans. Luse (L,iioe, ) ensign, is appended to the treaty 
with the Wyandots at Fort Harmar, January 9, 1799, as a witness to that 
document. He resigned from the serWce in March, 1790. 




Brigadier-Genera!. Josiah Harmar 

UI«I>ER ^FnOJSE COMMAND FORT WTASniNQTON \FA9 BUILT. 



From portrait l)y Peale. 
Courtesy Pennsylvania Historical Society. 



Josiah Harmar, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 175'^, and educated at 
the famous Quaker vSchool of one Robert Proud. Served in Revolutionary 
Army from October 27, 177.5 to November 3, 1783, retiring with rank of 
brevet Colonel. In following year conveyed dispatches from Congress to 
Paris announcing formal ratification of peace. Appointed L,ieutenant- 
Colonel Commandant of United States Infantry Regiment. August 12, 1784, 
and remained at the head of the Army until superseded by General St. 
Clair in 1791. Under his command Fort Washington was built. He con- 
ducted the campaign which bears his name, in September and October 
1790; and owing to adverse criticism resigned from the service January 1, 
1792. Returned to Pennsylvania and there served six years as Adjutant- 
General. He died in Philadelphia, August 20, 1813, and was buried with 
military honors. 



The blockhouse at North Bend was probably a 
small and perhaps a rude structure, as Ensign Luce 
was illy supplied with even the simplest tools like axes 
and shovels. Indeed, Judge Symmes was obliged to 
lend him such articles. It is said that Lieutenant Ker- 
sey originally desired to locate his command in the old 
buildings which still remained at Fort Finney, but for 
some reason this was not done (9). There can be no 
reasonable doubt, however, that a blockhouse was 
erected at North Bend early in the year 1789, and that 
Ensign Luce remained at his post, affording to the set- 
tlers the best protection possible with his small force, 
instead of slipping off to Cincinnati after a black-eyed 
beauty, as one respected historian has supposed (10). 

There is no authentic record of the existence of a 
blockhouse at the Cincinnati settlement in the spring 
of 1789; although one had been built here when the ex- 
pedition against the Shawanees was undertaken by 
George Rogers Clark, nine years before (11). 

When the army of the western frontier first took 
station on the Ohio River, it was at Fort Mcintosh; but, 
as new outposts were from time to time erected further 
to the westward, the commander of the army found it 
necessary to move his headquarters to some more cen- 
tral point. Accordingly General Harmar proceeded 
with his family to the fort which bore his name, at the 
mouth of the Muskingum. He arrived about the mid- 
dle of July, 1786, and still retained his headquarter^ 
at Fort Harmar when the building of Fort Washington 
was begun. 

( 9. > Letter from John Cleves Symmes to "Hon. Captain Dayton," Mav 
18-20, 1789. J- - y 

( 10. ) Burnet's Notes, Ed. 1847. pp. 5J-57. N. B. Judge Burnet was not 
living in Cincinnati at the time in question and wrote of the incident only 
as he had been told. 

( 11. ) I<etter of John McCadden, May 16, 1842, American Pioneer, vol 
I, p. 377. 



The question of establishing a post in the 
Miami Country, had evidently been discussed between 
General Harmar and the War Department, before even 
the conclusion of the treaty at Fort Harmar. Under 
date of January 22, 1789, General Harmar wrote to 
Major Wyllys as follows: "It is not improbable but 
that two companies will be ordered to be stationed at 
the mouth of the Great Miami, not only as a better 
cover for Kentucky, but also to afford protection to 
Judge Symmes in his intended settlement there * 

* * * .If the two companies should 
be ordered to take post at or near the mouth of the 
Great Miami, provision can be conveniently laid in and 
forwarded from Limestone by Lieutenant Schuy- 
ler." Although the claims of the Miami settle- 
ments for protection against the Indians had been 
strongly urged by Judge Symmes and his friends in 
Congress for sometime before, it was not until the last 
of the summer of 1789, that the construction of an ef- 
fective, and for the times, an imposing fortress was be- 
gun at the Cincinnati settlement. 




10 




LlEUTElVANT EbENEZER DeNNY, 

ADJUTANT AT FORT WASHINGTON, 1700-01. 



Courtesy Pennsylvania Historical Society. 

Ebenezer Denny was born in Carlisle, Pa., March 11, 1701, being the 
eldest child of William Denny and Agnes Parker. His mother was 
the sister of Mr. Alexander Parker, the original proprietor o{ the 
land on which the city of Parkersburg, W. Va., now stands. The 
life of Ebenezer Denny was full of adventure and romance. When a 
mere lad of thirteen years, he was the trusted dispatch bearer to 
the commanding officer at Fort Pitt. During the early part of the Revolu- 
tion he served on an American Privateer, and later entering the Continen- 
tal Army as en.sign, served to the close of the war, having then the rank 
of lieutenant. He was appointed en,sign in the Army of the United States 
in 17M4, and .served up to the time of his resignation in the spring of 179 , 
leaving the army with the rank of captain. Two years later he was com- 
rai.s.sioned by the Governor of Pennsylvania to protect the frontier at Ven- 
ango and Presque Isle At the former place he built a new work near the 
site of the old French ajid Engli.sh forts. Lieutenant Denny served 
through the campaigns of Harmar and >St Clair and was the trusted aide to 
both these officers. He was several times the bearer of important dis- 
patches from Harmar and .St. Clair to the War Department, traveling 
through the well-nigh unbroken wilderness in the performance of such 
duties. His journal published by the Pennsylvania Historical Society is 
the most valuable record of this period. Major Denny died on his place 
near Pittsburg, Pa., July L'l, IH21'. 




N THE EARLY part of August, 1789, 
Captain David Strong (12) re- 
ceived orders to proceed to the 
Miami Country. Accordingly, with 
a full company of seventy men, 
and his two subalterns, Lieutenant 
Jacob Kingsbury (13) and Ensign 
Hartshorn, (14) Captain Strong 
set out from Fort Harmar on the 
9th of August (15). Two days 
later Major John Doughty, an artillery officer of 
great ability, and second in command to General Har- 
mar, set out for the same region, "for the purpose of 
selecting the site of a fort intended to protect the set- 
tlers on the Symmes Purchase" (16). 

In the early days of the Army of the United States, 
it was not uncommon for officers in the Artillery 

(12.) Captain (later I<ieutenant Colonel) David Strong, a native of 
Connecticut, who after faithful service in the Continental Army, from 
which he retired with rank of captain, entered the Army of the United 
States in which he served up to his death at Fort Wilkinson, 111., August 
19, 1801. Captain Strong took part in at least the preliminary work in- 
volved in the building of Fort Washington. He subsequently constructed 
Fort Wilkinson, twelve miles below Metropolis, 111., and was in command 
at Fort Jefferson in 1792, and Detroit lim. 

(13.) I,ieutenant (later Colonel) Jacob Kingsbury, a native of Con- 
necticut, who had served throughout the entire Revolution and was com- 
missioned l,ieutenant in the First Reg^iment of United States Infantrj', 
October 15, 1787. After serving under successive commanders in the various 
reorganizations of the Army, he was honorably discharged June 15. 181o, 
forty years after his first enlistment as a private in the Continental A!rmy. 
At the time of his retirement he held the rank of colonel. A year before 
his retirement he had been Inspector-General. Colonel Kingsbury died 
July 1, 1837. While Kingsbury took part in all the various campaigns 
against the Indians, he is particularly associated with the defense of Dun- 
laps Station on the Great Miami River in January, 1791. At this time his 
cheery courage animated the little garrison to hold out against great 
odds, until help was procured from Fort Washington. 

(14.) Ensign (later Captain) Asa Hartshorn, of Connecticut, entered 
the United States Army in 1787. After performing much useful duty on 
details to protect surveyors and the government geographer, he served 
against the Indians and was killed during the Wayne campaign June 80, 
1794, under the walls of Fort Recovery. This action was between an escort 
of 150 United States troops and a body of Indians probably assisted by 
British agents and French volunteers. 

(15.) Military Journal of Major Ebenezer Denny. 

(16.) Military Journal of Major Ebenezer Denny. 



u 



branch of the service to perform duties more strictly 
pertaining to the Engineers, in fact the two corps were 
at one time combined as the "Artillerists and En- 
gineers." Major Doughty had, moreover, established a 
fine record during the war of the Revolution, and sub- 
sequent thereto was intrusted with various important 
missions on the western frontier. He was not only 
held in high esteem by his commanding officer, but by 
others qualified to form an opinion. Major Doughty( 17) 
too had the advantage of experience in this line, hav- 
ing constructed Fort Harmar at the mouth of the Mus- 
kingum, in 1785 — 6. For all these reasons he was 
chosen by General Harmar as a trusted and efficient 
officer to select the site and design the plan of the pro- 
posed fortress. 

Major Doughty after a passage down the Ohio, 
which consumed a week's time, arrived in the Miami 
Country on the i6th of August; and five days later he 
sent a letter to General Harmar, which embodied a 
report on his expedition. The Major had spent three 
days in making a reconnaissance of the region between 
the Miamis, during which time, he carefully weighed 
the advantages offered by various localities. 

He considered the matter of safety from Hoods, the 
surroundings of the proposed site as affecting the health 



(17.) Major John Doughty was a native of New Jersey, the eldest son of 
Joseph Doughty and Siche Wiltsie, and was born "the 8th day of ye fith 
month 1757." He served in the Continental Army, in the Artillery, except 
for a short time (in 1777) when he was aide to General Schuyler, and re- 
tired at the close of September 17H;^ with the rank of brevet major. He 
was appointed Major of the Artillery Gattalion. United States Army iu 
17S4, resigned from the service in 17!)l. but in 17!tS reentered it as L,ieuten- 
ant-Colonel of the Second Kcgiment of Artillerists and Engineers. Two 
years later he permanently retired from the service, and died vSeptember 
16, l>-26. Major Doughty was the designer and constructor of I"ort Harmar 
on the Muskingum in 178,5 and the designer of Kort Washington in 17il». 
He held command at Fort Mcintosh, Fort Harmar and Fort Washington, 
and in 17fll executed a hazardous mis.sion to the Indians of the Tenneessee 
from which he narrowly escaped with liis lif'j. Major Doughty was an en- 
thusiastic horticulturist and it is said originated the famous Doughty peach 
which for many years flourished about the Muskingum River. 

12 



of a garrison, and also looked into the question of wa- 
ter supply for the fort. 

Of all the places examined, he considered that the 
best selection he could possibly make was "opposite 
Licking River, high and healthy, abounding in never 
failing springs" (i8). 

Major Doughty's report was accepted as satisfac- 
tory, and General Knox, Secretary of War, was duly 
informed thereof by General Harmar. 

The situation of the fort having thus been deter- 
mined, it only remained to carry out the plan which 
had been prepared by Major Doughty. To this end 
about the 4th of September, Captain William Ferguson 
(19) was ordered with his company "to join Captain 
Strong in erecting a fort near the Miami"; and Lieut- 
enant Pratt, who was then acting as post Quarter- 
master, was ordered to proceed to the same point (20). 

The work of actual construction thus began very 
promptly, and was carried on under the personal su- 
pervision of Captain Ferguson and Lieutenant Pratt,(2i ) 
who performed their duties in such satisfactory man- 

(IS.) Report of General Harmar to General Knox, vSecretarv of War 
September 12, 1789. ' 

(19.) Captain (later Major) William Ferguson was from Pennsylvania 
and had served m the Corps of Artillery during the Revolution He was 
appointed Captain in the United Stales Army in 1785. He appears to have 
been the principal constructor of Fort Washington at Cincinnati in 1789 
and during the preparations for the campaign two years later he was 
very actively engaged in the repair and manufacture of arms 'gun car- 
nages, etc. He was killed during the St. Clair campaign, November 4 
1791. Major Ferguson had married Susanna, daughter of Maskell Ewing' 
Secretary of the Grand I^odge (Masonic) of New Jersey. Maskell Ewing's 
name appears as Secretary on the original charter granted to the Nova 
Caesarea (Harmony) I^odge of Cincinnati, dated' September 8, 1791 Major 
Ferguson shortly before he set out on campaigns of 1791, purchased the lot 
on S. W. corner of Broadway and Fourth Street, opposite the upper end of 
the military reservation on which Fort Washington stood. 

(20.) I,ieutenant (later Captain) John Pratt was a native of Connecticut 
who had served in the Continental Army from which he retired with the 
rank of lieutenant. He was appointed to the same rank in the Army of 
the United States in 1785, and resigned in December 17()3 He was regimen- 
tal quartermaster in 1789, when Fort Washington was under construction 
and in fact the army li.sts show him carried as Acting Quartermaster- 
General at this time. * 

(21.) Report of General Harmar to General Knox, Secretary of War 
January 14, 1790. See Appendix II. > j . 

13 



ner that they were mentioned in a special report to the 
Secretary of War. 

The various forts on the western frontier were 
very similar in outline and the methods employed in 
their construction were almost identical. There were 
of course slight variations in the disposition of the 
blockhouses, and the height of palisade work; but as a 
rule, the outline of each fort was rectangular, with 
blockhouses, or in military parlance, bastions, located 
at the angles. The first step taken in the building of a 
fort was the clearing of the ground of all underbrush 
and the cutting down of the trees, close to the ground, 
for a distance of several hundred yards all about the 
proposed site. 

The blockhouses were next constructed, being 
sometimes, as in the case of Fort Steuben and Fort 
Harmar, set obliquely to the faces of the curtains, or 
side walls, of the fort. Generally, however, the faces 
of the blockhouses were parallel to the curtains, but 
projected about half their width beyond them. This 
arrangement permitted of a raking fire from the block- 
houses, along the face of each curtain, and so made the 
scaling of the palisades by an enemy almost an im- 
possibility. The blockhouses were usually two stories 
in height, with the upper story projecting beyond the 
lower, and pierced with loop holes for muskets. The 
blockhouses which were commonly about twenty feet 
square, were built of heavy logs hewed, at least on 
the upper and lower edges, in order to bring them, 
when laid, into close contact. The logs were built up 
in horizontal courses and notched together at the cor- 
ner of the blockhouse. 

In the middle of each curtain, the walls of the fort 
were formed by the barrack buildings or storehouses 
built also of logs but without projection of upper stories. 

14 




Fort WASHiN«roN^ at Ci^vcinnati, Ohio. 

BUII^T 17S0« DKMOL18HBD 190S. 

From a sketch by Major Jonathan Heart, U. S. A., in 1791. 



Jonathan Heart was born in Kensington (now Berlin), Con- 
ne ticut, in the year 1744, his father, Deacon Ebenezer Hart, being a 
descendant of one ot tlie early settlers in the Colony. Jonathan Heart was 
graduated from Yale College in the class of 1708. After the completion of 
his collegiate studies. Heart taught school in New Jersey but returned 
to his native state prior to the Revolution. He started with' the volunteers 
ot the •■I.exington Alarm," was a private at Bunker Hill, and an ensign 
at the siege ot Boston. After a service of eight and one-half years in the 
Continental Army, Heart retired at the time of its final dfsbandment, 
November 8, 1783, with the rank of brigade-major. In lys Heart was 
appointed captain of one of the two companies which Co inecticut fur- 
nished as her quota to the Army of the United States, and he then con- 
ducted his company across the country from Connecticut by way of West 
Point to Fort Pi' t and thence down to Fort Mcintosh, where the company 
went into gam on. During Heart's service in the army of the frontier he 
performed much u.seful work. He was the designer and constructor of 
Fort Franklin at French Creek, Penna. Heart was promoted to be Major 
of the Second Regiment of Infantry in 1791, and arrived at Fort Washing- 
ton on the 2(lth of April. Between this time and the departure of the 
troops on the St. Clair Campaign in the following autumn. Major Heart 
made the sketch which is given above. In the engagement of 
November 4, 1791, Heart (with many of the officers and men of his regiment) 
was killed. 



The spaces along the curtains which intervened 
between the blockhouses and barracks, were filled 
with palisades. These palisades were formed by tree 
trunks cut into such lengths that after being placed up- 
right in a trench about four feet deep, they would rise 
from ten to sixteen feet above the surface of the 
ground. The lower end of the logs composing the pali- 
sade, were carefully squared off, and the upper ends 
usually pointed. 

The edges of the palisades where they came in 
contact with each other, were slightly hewed to re- 
move any great irregularities, and the tightness of the 
wall was further insured by a second row, the logs of 
which were placed behind the joints of those in the 
outer row. Horizontal string pieces were secured by 
wooden pins to the upper ends of the palisades to bind 
them all firmly together. 

The roofs of all buildings and the floors were 
usually constructed of the rough plank riven or sawed 
from logs, unless, as in the case of Fort Washington, 
other more suitable lumber was obtainable. Chim- 
neys were constructed of stone, or of small sticks laid 
up "cob house" fashion, chinked and lined with clay. 
The earth from the trench in which the palisades 
were erected, was replaced and carefully rammed 
about them; while outside of the fort, ditches were 
dug, usually quite shallow, which provided for the sur- 
face drainage. 

Ordinarily the frontier forts, as already observed, 
were constructed wholly of the material nearest at 
hand ; they were literally hewed out of the forest; but 
in the case of the fort which Captain Ferguson and 
Lieutenant Pratt were building, there was a cheap 
supply of lighter and better lumber for certain portions 
of the structure. 



15 



Contemporary accounts of Fort Washington state 
that its walls were built from trees cut from the forest 
which then thickly covered the plateau round about. 
The more exposed portions, the blockhouses, barracks, 
and palisades, were doubtless constructed of logs, as 
the heaviest material obtainable from the small tlat- 
boats then plying upon the Ohio, would hardly prove 
bullet-proof, hi fact. General Harmar in his report does 
not state that flatboat timbers alone entered into the 
Fort's construction, and we may infer that of the pur- 
chased material, this was the only lumber used, for he 
ends his remarks with the expression, "thus much for 
the plank work." The log work costing nothing be- 
yond the labor of the soldiers, which was free, he did 
not consider. 

A sojourn in the wilderness had taught the sol- 
diers self-reliance and ingenuity. Of all the material 
used in the construction of the fort, the Government 
was put to expense only for glass, nails, wagon hire, 
and such lumber as was taken from the tlatboats. 
Stone for the mason work in foundations and lime, was 
near at hand in abundance. The soldiers burned the 
lime themselves and performed all other necessary 
labor. The virgin forest all about the fort, contained 
material for the heavier portions of the structure; while 
the lumber from flatboats furnished floors, roofing 
material, doors, sentry boxes, etc. These flatboats 
were purchased at Limestone, some 40 or 50 in all, at 
a cost of from one to two dollars each. They were so 
called Kentucky flatboats, which had come down the 
river laden with emigrants or supplies; and having 
fuliilled their purpose were now of little or no value 
and could be purchased very cheaply. Indeed such 
boats after having been unladen were often cut adrift 
and allowed to float down the river in order that room 
might be made for fresh arrivals. 

16 



As to the size of the fort, the best authorities in- 
cluding depositions and maps presented as evidence in 
court, justify the statement that the blockhouses were 
each about twenty feet square; and that about one 
hundred and eighty feet intervened on each side, be- 
tween the four blockhouses situated at the angles of 
the fort. A deposition made in the United States 
Court many years later by one who had been a sol- 
dier at the fort, establishes the fact that the buildings 
used as barracks were located, one in the middle of 
each of the four sides, and that the one on the side 
facing the Ohio River was divided into six rooms of 
twenty feet each. These rooms were arranged three 
on each side of the principal gateway. As this gate- 
way was about twelve feet wide, the entire length of 
the south, or river side, barracks, making allowance for 
the necessary partitions between the rooms and the 
end walls, was about one hundred and thirty-five feet. 
To fill in the space between the ends of the barracks 
and the blockhouses at the angles of the fort, would 
require about twenty-two and one-half feet of palisade 
work at each end of the barrack buildings. Accord- 
ing to the deposition already alluded to, there was a 
sort of triangular extension on the west side of the fort, 
terminated by a fifth blockhouse which must have 
stood near the present east line of Broadway. This 
extension is not alluded to by other deponents, nor 
was it shown on the map presented in Court, nor 
does General Harmar mention it in his report to the 
Secretary of War; and it may have been added subse- 
quently to that time. Captain Heart, however, shows 
such an extension in the sketch which he made in 1791. 

The southeast blockhouse of Fort Washington 
was used for the transaction of official business. 

In the center of the quadrangle stood a flag. 

17 



staff. As regards the water supply for the garrison, 
there was at least one well within the walls of the fort, 
this one having been dug during the summer of 1791, 
by one John Robert Shaw, then an enlisted soldier at 
the fort (22). 



(22.) Xife & Travels of John Robert Shaw, the Well Digger.' 
Pub. I,exington, Ky., 1807. 







IS 




Majur-GtEnekal, A-Rthctr St. Clair, 

GOVERNOR OP THB NORTH-WEST TERRITORV. 



From pencil sketeli hy TrumhiiU, Irving's Life of Washington, 

Edition, 1859. 

Courtesy G. P. Futmiru's Sons. 



Arthur St. Clair was born in the town of Thurso, Scotland, in the 
year IT'A. He entered the University of Edinburgh :md for a short 
tim;: studied m dicine with Dr. Willi im Hunter, of L,ondon ; but after his 
mother's death in the winter of 17.5(i-7 he purchased a release from this en- 
g igement and procured a commission as Etisign in the Royal American 
(Sixtieth) Regiment of Foot. In the following year (17.5«) St. Clair 
sailed with Gi ticral Amherst in the fleet of Admir.il Boscawen, arriving 
b-fore L,ouisburg May 28. For gallantry in the siege which ensued, St. 
Clair was promoted to a lieutenancy in 1759, following which he served 
under Wolf at the taking of Quebce. In 1760 he marri d a Miss Phoebe 
Bayard, niece of Governor James Bowden, resigned his commission two 
years later, and resided in Boston until 17t)4, when he removed with his 
accomplished wife to the wilds of Western Pennsylvania. The marriage 
portion of his wife together with his own fortune now made St. Clair a 
rich man, and he later became the holder of but little less than eleven 
thousand acres of land. St. Clair served throughout the Revolution, leav- 
ing the army at its close with the rank of major-general. The war had, 
however, left him a man of broken fortune. In 1780 General St. Clair was 
a delegate to Congress and the next year was chosen President of Con- 
gress. Shortly after the passage of the ordinance which created the North- 
west Territory, St. Clair who had been its friend, was chosen the first 
. Governor. On the 9th of July, ITKS, the Governor's party arrived at Mari- 
etta under the escort of a body of troops commanded by Major Doughty, 
and was received with militarj' honors including a .salute of fourteen guns 
from Fort Harmar. From this time until 1802, St. Clair governed a terri- 
tory whose area was greater than that of the British Isles and France. 




HE SHORES OF the Ohio River in 
front of Fort Washington, rose 
rather steeply to a terrace about 
55 feet above low water, which 
extended for some distance east 
and west. This terrace was the 
land first built upon when Cin- 
cinnati was settled, but the 
ground was not sufficiently ele- 
vated to insure it against overflow 
by the freshets of winter and spring This lower ter • 
race extended back from the top of the river bank 
about four hundred and fifty feet, being terminated on 
the north by a second bank which rose precipitously 
some thirty feet higher. Fort Washington stood upon 
the second terrace, which extended back from the up- 
per edge of the second bank, at an elevation of between 
eighty and ninety feet above low water in the Ohio 
River. The lower terrace was originally covered by a 
growth of white walnut, water maples, hickory, and 
ash trees; with a few very large sycamores. One of 
these sycamores, situated near Deer Creek a little 
above its mouth, was hollow and of such a great size, 
that a woman who acted as laundress (about 1796), 
for the garrison at Fort Washington, occupied it as a 
dwelling; the broken end of a hollow limb which pro- 
jected from the trunk being utilized as a chimney (23). 
The second terrace was also heavily wooded, back 
to the hillsides which on three sides hemmed it in. 
There were a few white oak and poplar trees, but the 

(23.) Recollections of Samuel Stitt, Cincinnati in lSo9, by Charles Cist, 
p. 145. 



19 



forest growth consisted mostly of black and red oaks, 
hickory, beech, ash, and black walnut (24). 

Fort Washington standing there upon the second 
terrace, quite above the reach of the highest floods in 
the Ohio River, looked down upon the little hamlet 
which had already begun to spread out upon the lower 
plane. The fort was sufficiently removed from the 
edge of the upper bank to leave an esplanade from six- 
ty to eighty feet in width, extending along its entire 
front. The great gateway of the fort opened upon 
this esplanade which may have been used as a 
drilling ground for small bodies of troops. At the edge 
of bank a picket fence extended along the esplanade. 

The ground surface of the lower terrace sloped 
back from the edge of the outer or river bank to the 
foot of the second bank so that the water collected here 
in the winter, forming a skating pond which extended 
across Eastern Row (Broadway), and for a little dis- 
tance north of Pearl Street. 

The picture presented by the fort from the river 
side must have been quite imposing, rising high above 
the river, with its blockhouses and barrack buildings 
two stories in height, connected by lines of high pick- 
ets; the whole white and glistening in the open sun- 
light, for the forest trees had been cleared away from 
about the fort. 

Fort Washington was a sight to gladden the heart 
of a weary voyager descending the Ohio, standing as 
it did, an emblem of the growing power of a young Re- 
public, and an earnest of that marvelous expansion 
through which the country has since passed. 

High above all else, from the mast within the 
quadrangle of the fort, floated a flag, then but little 

(.24.) Judge Matson to Charles Cist, 1846. 

20 



known or Honored among nations; but now recognized 
and respected throughout the world. 

The construction of the fort at Cincinnati made 
such progress that General Harmar, even before the 
close of September, began to plan the removal of head- 
quarters to the new station. To an old friend, Colonel 
Francis Johnson, he wrote: " I am shortly going to 
make my headquarters down opposite Licking River." 
A few days later in another letter, he says: "Your 
humble servant is a bird of passage. Sometime the 
latter end of next month, or beginning of November, 
1 shall move down the river, bag and baggage (leaving 
Ziegler's (25) and Heart's companies at this post 
for the protection of our New England brethren), and 
shall fix up my headquarters opposite Licking River. 
1 am in hourly expectation of the Governor" [General 
St. Clair] (26). General Harmar was, however, de- 
layed at the Muskingum longer than he anticipated, 
for in November he wrote to General Mifflin, as follows: 
"It will afford me great happiness if you could steal 
three or four months from the Atlantic, and spend 
them with me. I am now on the wing, expecting to 
move down the Ohio in a few days, and to fix head- 
quarters opposite the mouth of Licking River about 
three hundred miles below this garrison, where I 

(25.) Captain (later Major) David Ziegler was born in Heidelbvirg about 
1748. He had probably seen more extended military service than any 
officer in the army of the frontier, having been in the Saxon Army, as well 
as the armies of Frederick the Great, and Russia. He served in the Con- 
tinental Army from 177.5 and was once captured by the British. In the 
year 1784, Ziegler was appointed Captain in the Army of the United States 
and was promoted Major in 1790, but resigned March 5, 1792. While sta- 
tioned at Fort Harmar in 1789 he married Miss Sheffield of Marietta, his 
friend, I,ieutenant Denny, acting as best man at the wedding. After his 
retirement from the Army, Major Ziegler engaged in business in Cincin- 
nati, where he died September L'l, 1811. He was the first President of the 
City Council after Cincinnati had become incorporated in 1802. In 1804 he 
was the first United States Marshal for the District of Ohio and in 1809 the 
Surveyor of the Port of Cincinnati. Major Ziegler was in command of Fort 
Harmar in the latter part of 1789, and after the St. Clair defeat was in com- 
mand of Fort Washington during the latter part of December 1791, also 
January and part of February, 1792. 

(26.) I^etterof General Harmar to General Richard Butler, September 
28, 1789. 

21 



should be proud of being honored with your company. 
Venison, two or three inches deep cut of fat, turkeys 
at one pence per pound, buffalo in abundance, and cat 
fish of one hundred pounds weight, are stories that are 
by no means exaggerated. I am going to a country 
where there is a much greater plenty of game than is 
here at present" (27). 

General Harmar left the Muskingum on the 24th 
of December and after a passage of four days arrived 
at the new fort opposite the mouth of Licking River 
with a command embracing about three hundred men. 

Now for the first time the fort received a name in the 
official reports. General Harmar writing to the Secre- 
tary of War says: "On account of its superior excel- 
lence, I have thought proper to honor it with the name 
of Fort Washington" (28). 

General Harmar and his command carried with 
them the sincere regrets of the Marietta Colony. An 
address of thanks for the zeal he had shown in pro- 
tecting the settlement, and wishes for the General's 
continued welfare, was forwarded to him at Fort Wash- 
ington early in January, 1790. This address was 
signed on behalf of the people of Marietta by a commit- 
tee of prominent citizens. 

General Harmar was evidently pleased with the 
situation of his new post, and took measures to make 
his surroundings still more pleasant by the laying out 
of gardens for his own use, beyond the military re- 
servation. He wrote to Judge Symmes early in March 
stating that he wished to secure an acre or so "near 
the garrison, on the east side of it, for the purpose of 
making a garden. I suppose, by applying to Mr. Lud- 
low, he will be able to stake off three or four lots ac- 

(27.) I^etter of General Harmar to General Mifflin, November 9, 17H9. 
(28.) See letter of General Harmar to General Knox, January 14, 17110. 
Appendix II. 




Lieutenant (Later Major) Erktjries Beatty, 

PAYMASTER AT FORT WASHINGTON. 



Erkuries Beatty, of Pennsylvania, was born October <), 17o9. During the 
Revolution he served as lieutenant, from 1777 to the close of the war; and 
after this he was clerk in the War Department until commissioned a 
lieutenant in the United States Infantry Regiment in 1784. After having 
been promoted captain aud major, he resigned from the army in the fall 
of 1792. For several years he was Paymaster of the Army, and to reach 
the various posts, traveled through the settlements of Virginia and 
Kentucky bordering the Ohio River. His journal of this period is valuable 
and interesting. Major Beatty died at Princeton, New Jersey, February 
•j;{, 1823. 



cordingly. I wish you to give him the necessary di- 
rections" (29). 

This garden was located south of Third Street and 
east of Ludlow, and the location of a certain summer 
house thereon became an important point for de- 
termination, some years later, when the situation of 
lots adjoining the garrison became a matter of litiga- 
tion (30). 

On the 2nd of January, 1790, General Arthur St. 
Clair, who had been appointed Governor of the 
North- West Territory, arrived at Fort Washington and 
after a brief stay, during which he organized the coun- 
ty of Hamilton and appointed judges, set out again for 
the Illinois country with an escort of fifty men under 
command of Lieutenant Doyle (31). In a letter to 
Mr. Jonathan Williams of Philadelphia General Har- 
mar recalls the pleasant hours spent with the former in 
Paris, whither the General had gone in 1784 as the 
official messenger of Congress to convey the news of 
the peace with Great Britian. He says: "Her^ we 
are delightfully situated on the most beautiful river in 
the world, LaBelle Riviere, opposite tiie Licking in 
Kentucky. You'll wonder at this when you call to 
mind the handsome meanders of the Seine at the foot 
of your old quarters. Society, unless what the military 

(29.) General Harmnr to John Clcves Symmes, March 7, 1790. 

(30.) A case in the United States Courts, later described herein. 

(HI.) General Harmar's letter of January 14, 1790. See Appendix II. 
Also Memorandum of Benjamin Van Cleve. See Appendix XVI. 

Ivieutenant (later Major) Thomas Doyle was from Pennsylvania, and 
had served more than four year.s during the Revolutionary War, leaving 
the Continental Army at its final disbandment, November 3, 1788. Hav- 
ing been appointed a lieutenant in the First United States Infantry Regi- 
ment in 1784, he was promoted successively to be captain and major. He 
took part in various engagements and was honorablv discharged, Novem- 
ber I, 1796. He died February 1.5, ISO.'j. Major Doyle' was a perfectly fear- 
less than as was shown on more than one occasion. He once traveled for 
miles in the Indian country accompanied only by a guide, visiting the In- 
dian villages and urging the chiefs to attend the treaty making' at Fort 
Finney in 1780. At the time of St. Clair's campaign, having been tempo- 
rarily deserted by his command. Doyle served as a volunteer with the Ar- 
tillery. Major Doyle in 1794 rebuilt the old French Fort Massac, near 
Metropolis, 111. 



affords, is entirely out of the question. Buffalo, veni- 
son, turkeys, and fish of an enormous size (when the 
season arrives), we have in great abundance. If ever 
Miss Fortune, the slippery jade, should direct your 
course to the westward, it will give me great pleasure 
to regale you with some of our dainties. You shall 
have a hearty soldierly welcome" (32). 

It is pleasant to note the part taken in scientific re- 
search by the officers of this frontier army. 

General Harmar himself took a broad interest in 
such matters, and closely occupied as he was in per- 
fecting plans for the protection of the frontier, he yet 
found time to secure and send eastward, fragments of 
the mastodons which had been discovered at "Big 
Bone" Creek in Kentucky, forty-four miles below Fort 
Washington. Later the General arranged to send 
down Doctor Allison, (33) the surgeon of the post, 
for a week's work among the giant remains of these 
animals, and writes to a friend: "Upon his return I am 
in hopes to be able to send you a proper collection of 
the bones, and worthy of your acceptance, as the Doc- 
tor is curious in these matters" (34). 

Early in the year, 1790, the Indians became 
troublesome upon the Ohio River above Fort Wash- 
ington, attacking the stations of the settlers and even 
fleets of descending boats. 

General Harmar reported to the Secretary of War, 
the destruction of Kentons Station, situated about fifty 

("2.) lyCtter dated from Fort Washington, February 25, 1790. 

i'iS.) Dr Richard Allison was a native of Pennsylvania, who after serv- 
ing more than five years during the Revolution, had been ai<pointed 
Surgfon's Mate in the United States Infantry Regiment in 1784 and was 
promoted Surgeon in 1788. He continued in the Army until the time of 
his honorable discharge in 1796. Dr, Allison lived on the east side of 
I,awren'e Street near its intersection with Third Street in Cincinnati, that 
is a little east of Fort Washington. His fruit trees were so famous that his 
place was sometimes called "I'each Grove." The house of General I,ytle, 
which in IWi is still standing, was built upon the Allison place. 

(34.) General Harmar to Dr. Caspar Wistar, of Philadelphia, April 5, 
1790. N. B. This promise was fulfilled by sending the bones of mastodons 
sometime prior to August 17, through I,ieutenant Ernest, at Fort Pitt. 

24 



miles above Limestone, and the death or capture of all 
the people in the station, supposed to be ten or twelve. 
About the same time a body of Indians supposed to be 
Shawanees attacked a fleet of descending boats near the 
mouth of Scioto River, and secured plunder whose val- 
ue was estimated at ;^4,ooo. A member of the Virgin- 
ia Legislature, Mr. Buckner Thruston, being upon one 
of the boats thus attacked, made a formal statement 
and complaint which was forwarded to the War De- 
partment (35). 

It finally became necessary to place small squads 
of soldiers on the boats of the army contractors, in 
order to insure their safe passage down the river. 
The character of the cargoes brought down in this 
way was extremely heterogeneous, one such boat con- 
taining clothing for the soldiers, sheet-iron, cartridges, 
arid flints for the muskets (36). 

(35.) General Harmar to General Knox, Secy, of War. March 24 179' 
Vm "^ ^''"'■°*' °^ ^^^°'' S^^'^*^^^ Denny under head olApriin' 

(36.) General Harmar to Capt. Ziegler, April 5, 1790. 




25 




URING THE five years which im- 
mediately followed the building of 
Fort Washington, that post was an 
important base of operations 
against the Indians. After the 
Treaty of Greenville August 3, 
1795, the importance of the fort in 
diis respect, declined, and before 
the beginning of the War of 1812, 
the fort had passed out of existence. 
The first of the retaliatory campaigns against the 
Indians subsequent to the Fort Harmar Treaty in 1789, 
vvas sent out from Fort Washington about April 20, 
1790. This expedition, which included about 300 men, 
vvas directed against the Shawanee villages on Paint 
Creek, whose warriors had committed many bold 
depredations on the boats of settlers passing the mouth 
of the Scioto, in which they had secured much valuable 
plunder. 

The Indians, however, kept posted regarding the 
movements of the armv, and the inhabitants of the 
villages deserted them before the arrival of the troops. 
The command, therefor, after passing down to the 
mouth of the Scioto about May 2, returned to Fort 
Washington, without the accomplishment of any definite 
purpose. 

Soon after the time that Governor St. Clair re- 
turned to Cincinnati from the Illinois country, where 
several months had been spent in organizing Territorial 
Government (37), he held a consultation with General 
Harmar with reference to a fresh campaign. 



(37. ) Governor St. Clair set out from Fort Washington for the lUinoi.s 
country about January ,'>, 1790, and returned July U. He had suffered a 
long delay at the "Fall.s" ( l,ouisville ), from the failure of the army con- 
tractor to furnish provisions. 




William Henry Harrison, 

ensign at fort washington, 179i. 

Born in Berkley, Virginia, February 9, 1773. Died in 
Washington, D. C, April 4, 1841. 

DELEGATE TO CONGRESS. 

GOVERNOR OF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY. 

MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. A. 

NINTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The original portrait hung on the walls of the famous "Old lyOg Cabin" 
at North Bend, Ohio, which was destroyed by fire in 1858, A copy of that 
portrait of General Harrison has been procured through the kindness of 
his granddaughter, Mrs. Betty Harrison Eaton. 



This was to be sent against the Maumee towns 
near the St. Mary River, where, according to advices 
received by General Harmar, the Indians had deter- 
mined to assemble, for the purpose of making a descent 
upon his troops (38). 

HARMAR CAMPAIGN. 

Preparations for the campaign were pushed, so far 
as laid in the power of General Harmar and his officers, 
in the most energetic manner. Requisitions for pack 
horses, ammunition, and supplies of all kinds were sent 
in, and Captain Ferguson, the artillery oificer, was 
soon busily engaged with his men in overhauling the 
artillery, arms, and stores. To quote the adjutant of 
the regiment: "Indeed every ofificer was busily em- 
ployed in something or other necessary for the expedi- 
tion, but particularly the Quartermaster Pratt (39). 
No time was lost." 

A call for levees of militia had been made by Gov- 
ernor St. Clair, and those from Kentucky began to as- 
semble at the fort on the i8th of September, followed 
soon after by the detachment from Pennsylvania. The 
militia as a body were not of the best type, they were 
not the genuine frontiersmen who had figured in the 
border wars of the Revolution. Some had little knowl- 
edge of woodcraft or the use of fire arms, and were in 
many cases the substitutes for better men who could 
not leave their improvements. The arms brought in 
by the militia were old and dilapidated to such an ex- 
tent that the artificers at the fort soon had their hands 
full in making needed repairs. Disputes among the 
various officers of the levees, were quieted by the ap- 



(38.) General Harmar received advices to this efifect from Major HamT 
tramck then at Fort Knox (Vincennts, lud. ). 

(39.) Captain John Pratt, regimental quartermaster. Major John Belli 
was also acting quartermaster in this campaign. 



27 



pointment of Colonel Hardin (40) to command all the 
militia. The force of regular troops was swelled by 
two companies commanded respectively by Captains 
Ziegler and Heart, which had been in garrison at Fort 
Harmar. These companies arrived September 25, and 
the next day Colonel Hardin with his command set out, 
followed on September 30 by the regular troops, with 
General Harmar as Commander in Chief of the 
expedition. 

The route taken by General Harmar, on his march 
to the Maumee towns came to be called "Harmar 
Trace" by the early settlers, and for much of its course 
can be located with some defmiteness. Attention has 
been directed in the opening portion of this article to 
the fact that the Indian war parties were accustomed 
to cross the Ohio River into Kentucky at a point near- 
ly opposite the mouth of the Licking River. Stealthy 
as was the tread of the redman, long continued use of 
any given trail wore down at last a narrow pathway, 
easily recognizable by the woodcraft of the frontiersman. 

Three such principal trails or traces led down to 
the Ohio at the point where Cincinnati now stands, 
and when the early settlers of Kentucky began to ex- 
ecute retaliatory measures upon the Indians who made 

MO.) Colonel John Hardin was born in Farquar County, Va., October 1, 
175!! ; but alx)ut twelve years later his father removed from his old homo to 
the wilderness which then stretched along the northern border of Vir- 
ginia. John Hardin became such a skillful marksman that he commanded 
both the fear and hatred of the Indians, so that his death, many years 
later, has been attributed to the feeling against him thus engendered. 
Hardin was an ensign in I,ord Dunmore's War in 1774, and during the Revo- 
lution was much of the time attached to the R'fle Corps commanded by 
General Daniel Morg^an. It was to a daring reconnaissance within the 
enemy's lines.raade hy Hardin, that Gen. Gates owed one of his succes.^es in 
the Northern Campaign ; but Wilkinson then assumed the credit for the 
undertaking. In the year 1786, Hardin removed to Kentucky and was ap- 
pointed lyieutenant-Colonel of Militia; Kentucky then forming part of 
Augusta County, Virginia. He served in Clark's expedition against the 
Wabash Indians and in fact all the Indian campaigns except that of St. 
Clair. In 1792, Colonel Hardin was selected to bear a letter from Washing- 
ton to the Indians. While performing this mis.sion umler flag of truce, 
Hardin was treacherouslv killed and .scalped by the Indians, on the site of 
the town which bears his uaiuc in Shelby Coianty, Ohio, a little prior to 
May ::0. 

28 



raids upon their infant settlements, what was more 
natural, than that the white man should follow back to 
the Shawanee towns in the path made by the Indian 
himself. In this way the expeditions under Colonel 
Bowman in 1779 and General Clark in 1780-2 came to 
follow these ancient roads of the redman, and so clear 
and widen them, that they became sufficiently well 
marked to be recognized for many years thereafter. 
After the conclusion of the Treaty of Greenville the 
condition of the country became settled and the pioneers 
felt the necessity for better roads than those offered by 
these primitive trails, which were fit only for pack 
animals. They accordingly set themselves to work 
widening still further these old Indian-military traces, 
and making them fit for rude vehicles ; so that they 
became the first highways in the Miami Country, many 
of them remaining in use to this day. The older road- 
ways in this country between the Miamis were there- 
fore developed according to the principles of evolution. 
First perhaps a deer path or buffalo trace, then an In- 
dian trail, then the Indian trail widened a little by Ken- 
tucky frontiersmen to allow the passage of light artil- 
lery; later these trails widened still further by the cam- 
paigns of 1790- 1791 and 1795 ; until at last the Ohio 
settlers seized upon them and made them highways, 
so preserving to this day the trail of the primitive 
savage. 

It was over the most easterly of the three princi- 
pal trails, that General Harmar set out from Fort 
Washington, about the middle of the forenoon, on Sep- 
tember 30, 1790. 

This course led, probably by way of Main and 
Sycamore streets, up over the hill now known as 
Mount Auburn, (41) and thence by way of Auburn and 

(•11.) It was while being borne down this steep hill, wounded and lyms; 
upon a litter, that Colonel McCracken died, November 4, 1782, ar; the second 
expedition of General Clark was returningtothe settlements of Kentucky. 

29 



East Auburn avenues, trending to the northeast, north, 
and east along the ridge leading down to the old Leba- 
non Road near Oak Street in Avondale. The trace 
then followed the direction afterwards covered by the 
old Lebanon Road, dipping down into the little cross 
valley leading from Mill Creek to the Little Miami, un- 
til at nightfall a camp was formed near where Ross Run 
now crosses the public highway. 

Lieutenant Armstrong (42) who has left a journal 
of this expedition, describes the first day's march as 
covering "about seven miles N. E. course — hilly rich 
land," and the second days march, which terminated 
on the banks of a small branch of Mill Creek near the 
present town of Sharonville. as leading "through a 
level rich country, watered by many small branches, 
waters of Mill Creek * * * about eight miles." 
This was through Mill Creek Valley. Continuing 
along the general course of the present Lebanon Road 
and passing a little south and east of where the town of 
Lebanon now stands, the trace turned over to the Lit- 
tle Miami River and crossed it at a point about one mile 
below a branch called Sugar or Caesar's Creek. From 
here the trace led along the east side of the Little 
Miami, generally in sight of this river, as far as Old 
Chillicothe, an Indian village (now Oldtown), and 
there recrossing the Miami, struck over to the Mad and 
Big Miami rivers. On October 11, they came to the 

(42 ) Ivieutenant ( later Colonel ) John Armstrong was a native otJ»ewn- n 

9ylT««ia,^pom -which -state -he entered the Continental Army, in 17/6 as a i-v^.^. »t*~w^' 
non-commissioned officer ; but he was promoted through successive grades ) 
to the rank of captain at the close of the war. He was appointed to an 
Ensigncy in the Army of the United States, and retired in 1793 with the 
rank of major. His conduct in the Harmar campaign was illustrative of 
his great tenacity of purpose, when out of a command numbering thirty 
men, he lost twenty-two before reluctantly falling back from the position 
to which he had been assigned. He had held command of Fort Pitt, Fort 
Finney ( or Steuben ) at Jeffersonville, Ind., and Fort Hamilton. After his 
retirement from the United States Army, he served as Colonel in the 
Militia of the Northwest Territory, Treasurer of the Territory and Judge 
in the courts of Hamilton County. He had received the confidence of 
Harmar, St. Clair, Wilkinson, and Wayne to a remarkable degree. His 
death occurred in 1810, on his farm in Clark County, Indiana. 

30 



old "French Store," which Lieutenant Denny 
estimated to be distant from Fort Washington 
about one hundred and seven miles. The march 
continued, some of the time through very swampy 
land, to the junction of the St. Mary and St. 
Joseph rivers, where they unite to form the Maumee. 
On the igth of October a severe engagement took place 
at a point about eight miles beyond the principal Miami 
town, which was located immediately east of the St. 
Joseph River. This battle ground was about eleven 
miles distant from the present city of Fort Wayne, 
Indiana. 

The result of this fight, which involved the advance 
guard of about three hundred men under Colonel John 
Hardin, was an entire defeat for the troops. Two 
miles east of the Miami town just described, and re- 
moved a little to the north of the Maumee River, was a 
village of the Shawanees, which has been called Chilli- 
cothe. The name is one frequently applied to the 
Indian villages and has no special significance. It does 
not mean the Chillicothe (or village) upon the Scioto 
River, nor that upon the Little Miami (nowOldtown) 
four miles north of Xenia. While Colonel Hardin and 
his advance guard was giving battle to the Indians, 
General Harmar with the main army marched to this 
Shawanee Chillicothe, or village, two miles from the 
Miami town, and destroyed the Indian huts and their 
corn. General Harmar had found it necessary to re- 
prove the troops (more particularly the militia), in 
general orders on the i8th and 20th. About the middle 
of the forenoon on October 21, the army turned back 
towards Fort Washington and camped for the night 
about eight or nine miles from the confluence of the St. 
Mary and St, Joseph rivers. Up to this time the 
troops had destroyed the principal Miami town, and five 

31 



scattering villages belonging to the Shawanees, Miamis 
and Delawares. Colonel Harmar was now strongly 
urged to permit a return to the Indian towns, and take 
by surprise the inhabitants, who had supposedly re- 
turned to their ruined habitations. Accordingly a picked 
force of four hundred men, made up of both regulars 
and militia, set out at midnight, under command of 
Major Wyllys, (43) the intention being to reach the 
ruined villages about daybreak on October 22 The 
Indians were, however, upon the alert and succeeded in 
drawing the main body of the troops on a futile pursuit 
which led up the St. Joseph River, leaving the rest of 
force to bear the brunt of the battle. This engagement 
resulted in great loss of life among the troops (44). 

An extract from a letter written by Captain (after- 
wards Major) Jonathan Heart from Fort Harmar. De- 
cember 3, 1790, shows how stubborn was the fighting 
in this engagement of October 22. He says : "A regu- 
lar soldier on the retreat near the St. Joseph River, 
being surrounded and in the midst of the Indians, put 
his bayonet through six Indians, knocked down the 

(43.) Major John Palsgrave Wyllys was born in 1754, being the son of 
George Wyllys of Hartford, Conn., and a direct descendant of that George 
Wyllys who was governor of the colony in lft41-2. He was graduated from 
Yale College in the class of 1773, and three years later entered the Conti- 
nental Army, where his military experience included the siege of Boston, 
the campaign about New York and the Hudson, the dreary winter at Val- 
ley Korge, and the campaigns in Virginia and about Yorktown. He was 
appointed Major in the First Regiment of Infantry, United States Army, 
in 17H5, and ni the following year for a time was in command of Fort Fin- 
ney near the mouth of the Great Miami River. In the campaign above 
noted. Major Wyllys commanded a detachment of regulars According to 
Mr. Urice, the local historian of Fort Wayne, Ind., Major Wyllys with oth- 
er officers and men, was buried not far from the Maumee River near a 
ford in the vicinity of the residence of a Mr. Coraparet. In his report to 
the .Secretary of War, General Harmar speaks of Major Wyllysas one who 
"united the talents of a cultivated mind with the best virtues of the heart.' 

(44.) The regular troops lost two officers. Major Wyllys and lyieutenant 
Frothingham; and forty-eight men. The total killed and missing of the 
army was 183; but it was believed that among the missing were many de- 
serters. Major Fontaine who led the cavalry, charged gallantly against 
the enemy ; but was deserted by his men and killed. Captains Thorp, 
McMurtry, and Scott; L,ieutenants Clark and Rogers; together with F'n- 
signs Bridges, Sweet. Higgins, and Thielkield, all officers of the militia 
levies, were among the slain. (Journals of X<ieuteuauts Ueuny and 
Armstrong.) 

32 



seventh, and the soldier himself made the eighth dead 
man in the heap." 

An early writer who secured his information from 
those who actually took part in the Harmar campaign, 
says in regard to the second engagement: "Nothing 
could exceed the intrepidity of the savages on this oc- 
casion; the militia they appeared to despise, and with 
all the undauntedness conceivable, threw down their 
guns, and rushed upon the bayonets of the regular 
soldiers; a number of them fell, but being so far superi- 
or in numbers, the regulars were soon overpowered, 
for while the poor soldier had his bayonet in one In- 
dian, two more would sink their tomahawks in his 
head." (Samuel L. Metcalf, Lexington, Ky., 1829.) 

The remainder of this day was spent in reorganiz- 
ing the troops and making litters for the wounded. On 
October 23 the return march was begun, and Fort 
Washington was reached November 3. At no time 
on this expedition did the Army march over to the 
Scioto River which was many miles from the scene of 
conflict ; yet certain writers, failing to follow the nar- 
ratives of those who were actually present at the fight, 
have taken it for granted that the name of Chillicothe 
applied to the town of that name on the Scioto. It is 
possible that the confusion has been heightened by the 
fact that an expedition was led out against the Shaw- 
anee towns on Paint Creek, not far from Chillicothe 
on the Scioto, some five months prior to the Harmar 
expedition, as has already been described in these 
pages. 

The campaign was a disastrous one, although at 
first it was believed by Governor St. Clair to have 
been a success and was so reported by him to the Sec- 
retary of War (45). General Harmar was severely 

(45.) This was directly after the arrival at Fort Washington of runners, 
bearing the news of the destruction of the Mautnee village, 

33 



and probably unjustly criticised for the maneuver be- 
gun on the night of October 21, when Major Wyllys 
was sent back to the Indian towns to surprise such of 
the enemy as might have returned to their habitation, 
then destroyed In regard to this matter, Lieutenant 
Denny, the Regimental Adjutant, then also Acting Ad- 
jutant General, and Brigade-Major, says: "The de- 
sign of sending back Major Wyllys with his command, 
was evident to all the army, and would have answered 
the fullest expectation, provided due obedience had 
been observed on the part of the militia, but owing to 
their ungovernable disposition, an excellent laid plan 
has in some measure been defeated." 

On returning to Fort Washington, the militia cross- 
ed the Ohio to the present site of Covington, where 
they formed camp and were promptly mustered out. 

Lieutenant Denny, carrying dispatches from Gen- 
eral Harmar to the War Department, set out from Fort 
Washington, November 7th, and pursuing his journey 
on horseback by way of Lexington, Crab Orchard, and 
the Wilderness Road, arrived at Philadelphia, Decem- 
ber 12, having been thirty-five days on the way. 
General Harmar keenly sensitive to adverse criticism, 
requested a Court of Enquiry, to pass upon his conduct 
in the campaign. This Court of Enquiry was con- 
vened in the southeast blockhouse of Fort Washington 
on the 15th day of September, 1791, by Major General 
Butler, (46) its President; the other members of the 



(46.) Major-General Richard Butler was one of five brothers, all of 
wlioni performed service in the war of the Revolution. Richard, the eldest, 
was born in Ireland, from whence his parents removed prior to 17»iO, set- 
tling in Pennsylvania. He was present at the surrender of both Burgoyn;; 
and Cornwallis. Subsequent to the war. General Butler was Indian Com- 
mi.«sioiier, and with Generals Clarke and Parsons concluded the treaty at 
Fort Finney — near the Great Miami River — January ;{1, 1786. In the cam- 
paign under St. Clair, General Butler commauded the right wing of the 
army with the rank of Major-General. 



34 




THE LOCK OF THE GREAT GATE OF 
FORT >VASHINGT01Nr. 



This lock is constructed of wrought iron and wood. It is about fourteen 
inches long and seven and one-quarter inches wide. The key i.s six and 
one-half inches long 

When Fort Washington was demolished, Mr. Joseph Coppin, one of the 
pioneers of Cincinnati, secured the lock, and it has been in the possession 
of his family ever since. 



court being, Lieutenant Colonels Gibson (47) and 
Darke (48). The finding of this court was highly- 
favorable to General Harmar, but he resigned January 
I, 1792, and returned to private life. 

In passing judgment upon the success or failure of 
the campaign projected by General Harmar, many 
things which seriously affected his plans must be taken 
into account. It is not the purpose of this article to ex- 
amine these matters in minute detail, but simply to call 
attention to the fact that over the two elements which 
appear to have been most prominent in defeating the 
plans of the campaign; viz., the undisciplined condition 
of the auxiliary troops, and the wholly inadequate 
nature of the commissary department. General Harmar 
could exercise little control. It is true he might have 
delayed his campaign until the troops could be brought 
into proper form, as did General Wayne, several years 
later; but, on the other hand, these auxiliary forces 
were restive from the first and began to desert before 
the march was fairly under way. A strong pressure 
was also brought to bear upon the General to begin his 
campaign without the delay necessary for proper dis- 
ciplinary formation. The history of all the wars in 

(17.) I<ieutenaat-Colonel George Gibson was bom in I<ancaster, Penn- 
sylvania, October 10, 1747. He received an excellent education, and just 
prior to the American Revolution was employed as super-cargo on vessels 
engaged in trade with the West Indies. He served in the Continental 
Army from 1776 to 1782 and after the close of the war was County I,ieuten- 
ant for the County of Cumberland, Penna. He joined the frontier army in 
17.^1, and in the engagement of November 4, 1791, commanded the Second 
Regiment of lyCvies. He fell mortally wounded, and was removed to Fort 
Jefferson, where he died on the 11th of the following December. 

(48.) lyieutenant-Colonel William Darke was born in Pennsylvania in 
17.^;i, but four years later his parents removed to near Shepherdstown in 
Jefferson County. Virginia. Darke served in the French-Indian war and 
was present at Braddock's defeat. He joined the Continental Army at the 
outbreak of the Revolution, and was captured at Germantown ; but on his 
release he rejoini d the Army and took part in the siege of Yorktown. In 
the Constitutional Convention of 1788, Colonel Darke representing the 
County of Berkeley, voted to adopt the Federal Constitution. In the St. 
Clair campaign. Colonel Darke commanded the left wing of the army, 
and in the engagement of November 4, he twice drove back the Indians m 
a gallant bayonet charge. His only son. Captain Joseph Darke, fell mor- 
tally wounded in this engagement. Colonel Darke was a man of huge 
size, and was frauk and perfectly fearless in his bearing. He died Nov- 
ember 20, 1801. 

36 



which this country has been engaged, has shown the 
absolute necessity for a careful and strict disciplinary 
probation, before troops could be used for arduous and 
long continued service. The brilliant but spasmodic 
exceptions to this rule, which have sometimes marked 
the history of this nation's wars, do not affect the gen- 
eral truth. 

RAIDS AGAINST THE WABASH INDIANS. 
The campaign of General Harmar had been so in- 
decisive in its results, that serious alarm was felt by 
the settlers in the Ohio Valley lest the Indians combine 
for a general attack upon the whites. The Legisla- 
ture of Virginia was asked to furnish temporary assist- 
ance until another campaign could be set in motion 
(49), and Washington was also appealed to for aid 
(50). At this juncture a plan was devised which it 
was hoped might afford at least temporary protection, 
and at the same time leave the regular troops in gar- 
rison until their ranks could be refilled by recruiting in 
the East. A local Board of War was appointed by 
the general government, which, acting under the ad- 
vice of General St. Clair and the Secretary of War 
(51), provided bodies of volunteer troops for the pur- 
pose of making raids into the enemy's own country, 
and so avert an attack upon the settlements. 

(49.) The l,eg:islature of Virginia was memorialized for temporary aid 
in December, 1700, and Governor Randolph in the following month noti- 
fied President Washington regarding certain protective measures which 
had been taken by the state. 

(50.) Rufus Putman, who had been intimately associated with Wash- 
ington as his military engineer in the compaigns about New York in 1776, 
made an appeal by letter to the President, January 8, 1791, setting forth the 
defenseless condition of the settlements on the Muskingum River. 

(51.) Shown by a letter of General St. Clair to Brig. Gen. Scott, dated 
from Fort Wa.shington May 18, 1791 ; also letter from Gen. Knox to Brig. 
Gen. {5cott, March ',), 1791. Gen. Scott led the first expedition consisting of 
about eight himdred men, who crossed the Ohio River near the mouth of 
the Kentucky, May 2-3. After inllicting severe blows upon the Indians 
whose towns were situated near where l,afayette, Ind., now stands, the 
command returned to the Kentucky settlements by way of the Falls of the 
Ohio (I<ouisville), June 14, without the lo.ss of a single mau. (Report of 
Gen. Scott to Secretary of War, June 28, 1791.) 

36 



During the spring and summer of 1791, two such 
expeditions were sent out, both composed of mounted 
volunteers. 

The second expedition made its rendezvous at 
Fort Washington, from which point it set out on the ist 
of August, numbering about five hundred and twenty- 
five men, under command of James Willkinson 
holding the rank of Brigadier General. He first made 
as if to strike the Miami villages, but changing his 
course more to the westward, pushed over to the 
Indian towns lying about the confluence of the Eel and 
Wabash rivers, near the present site of Logansport, 
Ind. Besides destroying several towns, and killing or 
taking prisoners, many Indians, the growing corn was 
cut down for a second time that season. But for the 
laming of a great number of horses, the raid might have 
accomplished even more than it did. As it was. Gen- 
eral Wilkinson felt obliged to turn back sooner than he 
desired. This expedition was remarkable for the ce- 
lerity of its movements, (52) so that when it returned 
to the settlements by way of the Falls of tlie Ohio 
(Louisville), August 21, a march of about four hundred 
and fifty miles from Fort Washington had been made in 
the space of twenty-one days (53). 

ST. CLAIR CAMPAIGN. 

In the year following the unfortunate campaign of 
General Harmar, Fort Washington was the scene of 
active preparations for a second expedition into the 
Indian country. 

General Arthur St. Clair, the Governor of the 
North-west Territory, had made a brief visit to Fort 

(52.) The average progress each day of march was a little more than 
twenty-one miles. This is in marked contrast to later marches made by 
toot soldiers where the average progress each day was less than four miJes. 
Ihe superiority of mounted troops in a campaign requiring rapid move- 
ments, was very clearly demonstrated at this time ; but the lesson was not 
applied in the subsequent campaign. 

(53.) Report of Gen. Wilkinson to Governor St. Clair, August 24, 1791. 

37 



/ 



Washington in January 1790, stopping for three days 
only, while on his way to the Kaskaskia country in 
Illinois. The Governor was absent until about mid- 
summer, but after that time, much of his correspond- 
ence is dated from the fort. He lived at one time in 
a house on Front Street about 50 yards west of Law- 
rence Street. The nearest way from this house to the 
fort, was by way of the "trace," as one witness (in a 
lawsuit many years later), called the shallow ravine 
which occupied the present line of Ludlow Street, on 
the east side of the reservation. One can picture the 
stately old Governor, now also Commanding General 
of the Army, who as was testified before the Congres- 
sional Committee in 1792, was "the first up in the 
morning, going from shop to shop to inspect the prepar- 
ations" (54). 

The powder was tested here by Major Ferguson, 
and the various supplies inspected. The shells used in 
the expedition "were fixed at the fort, also wheels for 
the carriages and the carriages themselves and many 
other things." Some of this work was done in the"Ar- 
tificers' Yard" adjoining the fort on the west; and other 
things, perhaps the heavier articles of wood and iron 
were made in the lower yard, on the river bank direct- 
ly in front of the fort. The quality of the clothing, 
pack saddles, powder, axes, and other articles supplied 
for the campaign, was complained of in the course of 
the testimony taken by the congressional committee 
already alluded to (55}. 

For safety against the Indians, who had become 
very bold in their depredations and at times stole 
horses which had been tethered under the very walls 

(54.) Testimony of Major Ziegler before a special committee of Con- 
gress, which was appointed March 27, 1792, to examine into the failure of 
the St. Clair expedition. 

(55.) General Harmar and Major Ziegler both testified in regard to 
these matters. 

38 




]!ifcCjOR-GE>fERAi. James Wir.KiNSON, U. S. A., 

IN COMMAND OF FOKT WA&UINGTON 1702. 



From crayon portrait lii Independence Hall, Philadelphia. 
Courtesy McUlure's Magazine. Copyright, 1902, S. S. MeClure. 

Tames Wilkinson was born in Benedict, Charles County, Maryland, 
in the year 1757. He had just completed his studies in the medical pro- 
fession when the Revohition began, and he at once joined the army at the 
siege of Boston. He served under Gates in the Northern campaign and 
was promoted first to a lieutenant-colonelcy and then to brevet rank of 
brigadier-general, but resigned the latter on account of active opposition 
from his fellow officers. He later served as Secretary of the Board of 
War and Clothier-General of the Army. After the close of the war. Gen- 
eral Wilkin-son removed to I^exington, Ky., and in 1787 engaged in trade 
with the Spanish Province of Louisiana. It was charged that the General 
then begun a series of intrigues with the Spanish Government which con- 
tinued for many years. He reentered the army as lieutenant-colonel in 
1791, was promoted to be brigadier-general in 1792 and on the death of 
General Wavne was made commander-in-chief. In 180.5 he was Governor 
of Louisiana, and in 1811 was court-martialed for complicity in the Burr 
conspiracv, but he was acquitted. He was made major-general m 1813, 
but after the failure of the Northern compaign was the subject of a Court 
of Enquiry which exonerated him. At the close of the war, General Wil- 
kinson received an honorable discharge a8l6) and retired to Mexico where 
he died December 28, 1826. 



of Fort Washington, a small island in the Ohio River 
was used as a corral for the cattle destined to furnish 
the troops with a supply of fresh beef, while on 
the march. This island is now obliterated, but it 
formerly occupied the site of what is now the Dayton, 
Ky. Bar (56). 

The army set out early in September, 1791, 
and followed a course which led to the fording place of 
the Great Miami River at Fort Hamilton. From Fort 
Hamilton the line of march led up to Fort Jefferson, 
then in process of building in what is now Darke Coun- 
ty. On the 4th of November, the army lay encamped on 
a branch of the Wabash River, distant from Fort Wash- 
ington as estimated by Captain Denny, about ninety- 
eight miles. Desertions from the force of militia levies 
had been frequent, on one occasion a sergeant and 
twenty-five men deserting in a single night. The 
march too had been slow and tedious, averaging since 
the army left Fort Washington less than four miles 
each day. 

On the 4th of November, early in the morning the 
Indians attacked in force and with great persistence. 
Owing to the conduct of the auxiliary levies, the 
brunt of the battle fell upon the regular troops (57) and 
more especially upon the artillery and the Second Reg- 
iment, for the First Regiment had been sent back a 
little way to check desertions. 

Major General Butler, a soldier of three wars, here 

(56.) This island figured in the engagement which took place between 
Colonel David Rodgers and a large body of Indians. Colonel Rodgers re- 
turning from New Orleans with munitions of war purchased from the 
Spanish, here attempted to surprise the Indians, but was himself led into 
ambush and his command well-nigh annihilated This was in 1779, 

(57.) The artillery lost Major Ferguson, Captain Bradford, and I.,ieu- 
tenant Spear, killed ; and Captain Ford, wounded. In the cavalry, or 
mounted infantry, Captain Freeman, I,ieutenant De Butts, and Cornet 
Bhines were wounded. The First Regiment had Captain Doyle wounded ; 
while the Second Regiment lost JIajor Heart, Captains Phelon, Newman, 
and Kirkwood, l,ieutenant Warren, and Ensigns Balsh and Cobb killed, 
while I<ieutenaiil Graton was wounded. The total loss was thirty-seveu 
officers, and five hundred and ninety-three privates killed and missing ; 
also fifty privates wounded. (From records ot Captain Denny.) 

39 



met his death. He had been wounded in the leg 
at the beginning of the battle, and as he could not then 
be moved, was made as comfortable as possible leaning 
against a tree. He was cheerful and had no fear. The 
battle which for a time had fallen away from General 
Butler's resting place, now surged back thither and he 
was killed and scalped by the enemy. Colonel Sar- 
gent and Viscount Milartie, a volunteer aide-de-camp 
from the French Settlements at Gallipolis, v/ere both 
wounded. The army was beaten back, and was only 
saved from complete rout by the promptitude of IWajor 
Hamtramck (58) commanding the First Regiment, who 
first occupied Fort Jefferson and then sent out ail the 
force he could spare to check desertions and rally the 
fugitives. 

During the fight. General St. Clair had four horses 
killed under him and was much of the time on foot. 
Eight bullets passed through his clothes and one grazed 
his head, cutting off a lock of hair. He wore "a coarse 
cappo coat and a three-cornered hat. He had a very 
long cue and large locks, very gray, flowing beneath 
his beaver" (59). 

The most harrowing feature of the battle of No- 
vember 4, 1791, was the sufferings of the women who 
had accompanied the army to the number of between 
one and two hundred. Most of these were slain with 
horribly contrived tortures, and their bodies treated 
with the greatest indignities. 

Captain Denny was selected by General St. Clair 
to convey dispatches containing the news of defeat to 

(58.) Major John Francis Hamtramck was a native of Canada but en- 
tered the Continental Army from New York. He was a captain in 177ti 
and served to June 3, 1783. He was appointed Captain in the First United 
States Infantry in 1785, and serving through the various Indian campaigns, 
was promoted successively major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. He 
was a most efficient officer and commanded the respect and trust of the 
various commanders of the Army. He died April II, LSO;?, and was buried 
in the grounds of St. Amies Orphan Asylum, Detroit. 

(59.) Narrative of St. Clair campaign. St. Clair Papers Vol. I, p. 176. 

40 



the War Department at Philadelphia. The journey 
was begun November 19. After consuming twenty 
days in passage by river to Wheeling, and eleven days 
more in the saddle between Wheeling and Philadelphia, 
Captain Denny arrived at the latter place on the 19th 
of December. 

The awful scene of conflict v/ith the Indians had 
made such an impression on the mind of Captain Den- 
ny, that he said but little on the subject. "To talk at 
all," he says, "is an unpleasant task to me." His ac- 
count of his interview with Genera! Knox is very brief, 
and he wrote that on the day following his arrival in 
Philadelphia, he was taken by the Secretary of War to 
breakfast with the President, who discussed the cam- 
paign very fully, asking many questions. 

General St. Clair had proposed the erection of one 
or more military stations in the Indian country as 
early as the campaign of General Harmar, but the Sec- 
retary of War did not then favor their establishment. 
When, however, preparations for the campaign of 1791 
were begun, a reluctant assent was given to a scheme, 
which the year before might have changed the entire 
result. Nov/ it was too late to bring about the advan- 
tages promised in 1790, for the Indians had been encour- 
aged by their successes and could no longer be easily 
overavv'ed by the presence of a military establishment 
in their midst. 

By the construction of Fort Hamilton, at the cross- 
ing of the Aliami River, Fort Jefferson in Darke Coun- 
ty, and Fort St. Clair, near the town of Eaton, in 
Preble County and between forts Hamilton and Jeffer- 
son, a line of communication had been advanced be- 
tween sixty and seventy miles from Fort Washington, 
towards the scene of active operations in the Indian 
country. While this chain of forts did not insure the 



41 



success of the campaign; for nothing could compensate 
for the rawness and general unpreparedness of the sol- 
diery, it did greatly mitigate the final disaster, by con- 
verting a disorderly rout into a retreat somewhat held in 
check. What the result might have been without these 
fortified halting places for the calming and reassurance 
of the panic-stricken militia levies, it is hard to con- 
jecture. 

To General St. Clair, the commander in chief, a 
brave soldier of three wars, an incorruptible official, 
and one who was a long neglected creditor of 
the nation, is due proper recognition for his 
valuable services in both military and civil life. 
The passions of political strife and intrigue, helped 
to obscure for many years the true conditions which 
prevailed during the campaign of 1791. Happily since 
then, time and the moderating influence of calm inves- 
tigation, have cleared the atmosphere and enabled 
later writers (60) to present the facts as they really 
were, not as partisan friends or enemies have desired. 
EXPEDITION UNDER GENERAL WILKINSON. 

Setting out from Fort Washington on January 
24, 1792, General Wilkinson conducted a small com- 
mand, made up of regulars from the fort and mounted 
militia from Kentucky, to the battle ground of the St. 
Clair campaign. 

The object of this expedition was to give decent 
burial to the bodies of the slain and to recover if possi- 
ble the artillery which had been abandoned in the 
hurried retreat of the army. 

When the troops marched from Fort Washington, 
a deep snow covered the ground, so that the supplies 

(fiO.) Mr. William Henry wSmith, the able editor of the St. Clair Papers, 
has presented calmly and dispassionately all the facts connected with 
General St. Clair's long and useful life. 

42 




Major-Generat^ Anthoxy "Wayne. 



From portrait by Trumbull, Irvliig's Life of Wasliington, 

Edition. 1859. 

Courtesy G. P. Putnanrs Sons. 



were drawn on sledges. The weather was excessively 
inclement and for part of the time snow, hail, and rain 
obstructed the march. The crust of frozen snow so 
cut the legs of the horses that the trail was marked 
for miles with the blood of these faithful animals. The 
scene of . battle was reached on February i and a 
graphic picture of the horrors there presented has been 
given by Captain Robert Buntin who accompanied the 
expedition (6i). 

When the soldiers pitched their tents, they were 
obliged to scrape up the bones of the dead and remove 
them, in order that their blankets might be spread 
upon the ground. 

The troops under General Wilkinson buried the 
dead in great pits and returned to Fort Washington in 
safety bringing with them several of the gun carriages, 
some of the guns themselves being recovered at a sub- 
sequent period. 

THE WAYNE CAMPAIGN. 
When General Anthony Wayne was appointed 
commander of the army, he began his preparations 
with a caution which was surprising to those who knew 
him only as the dashing Mad Anthony of Stony Point, 
the brave but impetuous and sometimes unwise leader. 
Wayne was a soldier by inheritance of fighting blood 
which had shown itself in the wars of two conti- 
nents. His grandfather, a Yorkshireman by birth, had 
emigrated to County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1681, and 
while there following the peaceful occupation of farm- 
ing, nine years later, entered the army of William of 
Orange. He took part in the battle of the Boyne- 
Water, and the siege of Limerick, and later on, as if to 



(61.) Captain Buntin writes to Governor St. Clair from Fort Washing- 
ton, February 13, 1792. 



43 



show that his courage was not chilled by age, emigrat- 
ed to Pennsylvania in 1722, at the age of sixty-three. 
Isaac, the youngest son of this old soldier, himself took 
part in the Indian wars and was a member of the Co- 
lonial Assembly of Pennsylvania. Anthony, only son 
of Isaac Wayne, was born January i, 1745, in Eas- 
town, near Paoli, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He 
early showed an inclination for military pursuits. 
His uncle who was conducting his education once wrote 
a complaining letter to Anthony's father, in which he 
says: **one thing I am certain of, that he will never 
make a scholar. He may make a soldier; he has al- 
ready distracted the brains of two-thirds of the boys 
under my direction, by rehearsals of battles, and 
sieges; * * * some, laid up with broken heads and 
others with black eyes. During noon, instead of the 
usual games and amusements, he has the boys em- 
ployed in throwing up redoubts, skirmishing, &c."(62). 
Young Anthony, however, became more steady, and 
did after all become a scholar to the extent of taking up 
land surveying, astronomy, and engineering, so that in 
spite of his natural impetuosity, he could control his 
sometimes rash impulses. Anthony Wayne was a 
provincial deputy in Pennsylvania i-n 1774-5. His rec- 
ord in the Continental Army is too well-known to re- 
quire mention, and when he returned from the army at 
the close of the war, with the rank of Major-General 
he at first resumed civil life in his native state. Later 
removing to Georgia, he represented that state in Con- 
gress during a part of the years 1791-92. He was con- 
firmed as Major-General in command of the United 
States Army, April 3, 1792, and at once set about 
bringing his troops into fit condition. The apprentice- 

(62.) From letter of Gilbert Wayne to his brother Isaac, quoted by Brice 
In his History of Fort Wayne, Ind. 

44 



ship of his soldiers began on the plain (just below Econ- 
omy, Pa., — the Logstown of Christopher Gist's 
time) which now bears the name of Legionville. Here 
the molding and forging and riveting together of his 
victorious legion was begun; later it was carried on at 
'*Hobsons Choice," in Cincinnati, some two miles be- 
low Fort Washington. When the perfected machine 
was ready for operation, it was advanced from point to 
point as the knights and pawns are moved upon a chess 
board. When, however, the time for final action came, 
then Wayne was the same impetuous commander as of 
old, ready to defy not the Indians alone, but if must be, 
the whole British Army. In his enthusiasm he was 
near forgetting that he was not merely the leader of a 
company, but rather the commander in chief; so that 
his aide, Captain William Henry Harrison, had to ask in 
advance for orders which he feared might not be given, 
once the fight had begun. With this impulsive desire 
to carry out his plans there was a sober, prudent side to 
General Wayne, which is shown in his letters to the 
army contractors, Messrs. Elliot and Williams, and to 
Major John Belli the Deputy Quartermaster-General 
at Fort Washington (63). These letters throw some 
light on the secret of General Wayne's success where 
other leaders had failed. He was daring to a remark- 
able degree, as was shown by his throwing down the 
gage of defiance to the British commander at "Fort 
Miami," in 1794; but, this daring quality of mind and 
heart was held in check by prudent preparations for 
his campaign; by a personal supervision of the little 
details which were so essential to the carrying out of 
his general plan. General Wayne did not long survive 

(63.) See Appendix III for letters of General Anthony Wayne to 
Messers Elliott and Williams, and John Belli, D. Q. M. G. From MSS. 
hitherto unpublished, as believed, and now in possession of Mr. H. D. 
Gregory of Covington, Ky. 

45 



his triumph. He died in a rude log cabin at Presqu' 
Isle (Erie), Pennsylvania, on the 15th of December, 
1796, and in accordance with his own request was 
buried under the flagstaff of the fort. 

With the successful termination of this campaign, 
the importance of Fort Washington visibly declined. It 
was a garrison only, for the Indians had at last met 
their master, and had retired beyond the limits set by 
the Treaty of Greenville. 




46 




The Drake House. 

Built by Doctor Daniel Drake in 1S12, on the site of the Southeast Blockhouse of 
Fort Washington. 

The Alto-relievo of Washington (see frontispiece) forms a part of the 
cornice in the parlor, on the north wall, between the two windows opening on 
the balcony, and is said to have been placed in the house about the year 1815. 

Daniel Drake was born at Plainfield, N J., October 20 1785, 
but at an early age removed with family to Mayslick Mason County, Ky. 
About the years lSOl-2 he was engaged in the study of medicine at Cincin- 
nati living at this time in one o? the buildings within Fort Washington. 
Dr brake's medical studies were completed at the University of Pennsyl- 
vania bv lectures which he attended in 1805 and again some years later. 
He became an active promoter of medical education in the West, at Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, and at I^ouisviUe and I^e.xington, Kentucky. He wa.s also au 
extensive writer on medical .subjects. Dr. Drake died in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
November (i, 1852. 




3- 
4- 

I: 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
II. 
12. 

13. 



N A LETTER from General Harmar 
to Lieutenant Ernest then com 
manding Fort Pitt, is given a list 
of the officers composing the gar- 
rison at Fort Washington, on the 
9th of June, 1790. 

1. General Harmar (Josiah of 
Pa.) 

2. Captain Ferguson (William of 
Pa.), 

Captain Strong (David of Conn.), 
Captain McCurdy (William of Pa.), 
Captain Beatty (Erkuries of Pa.), 
Lieutenant Armstrong (John of Pa.), 
Lieutenant Kersey (William of N. J.), 
Lieutenant Ford (Mahlon of N. J.), 
Lieutenant Pratt (John of Pa.), 
Lieutenant Denny (Ebenezer of Pa.), 
Ensign Suydam (Cornelius Ryker of N. J.), 
Ensign Hartshorn (Asa of Conn.), 
Ensign Thompson (Robert of Conn.), 
Doctor Allison (Richard of Pa.). 

out for the information of the 



14. 

This list was made 
Quartermaster or the army contractor who had en- 
gaged to furnish the garrison at Fort Washington with 
rations and other supplies. These returns were for- 
warded at a time when a number of the officers belong- 
ing to the "First United States Infantry" were on duty 
at other posts in the valley of the Ohio. Fort Pitt 
was still maintained as a distributing center for supplies; 
Fort Franklin (at Venango, near the site of the old 
French and English forts), was also occupied; while 
at Fort Harmar on the Muskingum; Fort Steuben (often 
called Fort Finney), near Jeffersonville, Ind.; and Fort 



47 



Knox at Vincennes, Ind.; small garrisons were held in 
readiness for operations wherever most needed. Fort 
Mcintosh at Beaver, Pa.; Fort Steuben atSteubenville, 
O.; and Fort Finney (near the mouth of the Great 
Miami); having outlived their usefulness, had been 
abandoned. New Fort Massac, about i^ miles above 
the present town of Metropolis, 111.; and Fort Wilkin- 
son, at the head of the Grand Chain, about 12^ miles 
below Metropolis; were not constructed until a later 
period. 

With but few exceptions, the officers of this, the 
first Army of the Republic, had served during the 
Revolution; and an examination of their individual 
records, unfolds an outline picture of the War for Inde- 
pendence. From the first call, the "Lexington Alarm"; 
down through Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston, to 
the campaigns in New York and the Jerseys; through 
the sufferings and disappointments of Valley Forge, 
Brandywine, and Germantown, or the picturesque 
struggle among the clouds and crags of Stony Point; 
through the stubborn battles in the Carolinas and the 
glorious successes of Saratoga and Yorktown; had come 
men who now gathered in friendly intercourse around 
the mess table at Fort Washington. Some who had 
passed unscathed the perils of battle, and the disease 
and suffering of the prison ship; some even who before 
the Revolution had taken part in the wars of the col- 
onies; were now destined to fall beneath the rifle and 
knife of the western savage. 

Only a fleeting glance can be given at the life of 
these men. They were furnished with an army 
wholly inadequate as regards size and, in general, illy 
supplied with the most common necessities of life; they 
had already served throughout a long, protracted war; 
but now that their services were again required, they 
cheerfully entered anew upon a life of privation and 
danger. To them, the West owes a debt of remem- 
brance and gratitude. 

The pay of the soldiers at this time was most nig- 
gardly, varying from three to five dollars per month, 
as the demand for recruits to engage in active field 
operations sometimes made it necessary to increase the 



48 



first named amount (64). Even this meager allowance 
was often long in arrears, and certain money-lenders 
attempted to speculate upon the necessities of the men. 
There is a clear, manly ring in the letter of the com- 
manding officer denouncing such practices. He says: 
"It is in my opinion, a most dishonorable traffic; by 
God, my hands are clear of it, and if 1 find that any 
officer is concerned in it, he shall be called to a strict 
and severe account for such unmilitary proceedings" 

(65). 

Supplies, as once before, were delivered in such an 
irregular manner, that the garrison at Fort Washing- 
ton was well-nigh threatened with famine. At mid- 
summer the men had been without meat for some days 
and both flour and v/hiskey had given out (66). The 
garrison was relieved from the danger of starvation by 
the settlers, some of whom furnished corn; while two 
hunters went down the river in a canoe and procured 
sufficient game — buffalo, bear, and deer— to subsist the 
soldiers for nearly six weeks. 

(64.) On one occasion, a year or two earlier, an expedition bound for 
some point in the region of Kaskaskia, III., stopped en route at "The 
Falls" (I<ouisville), and the sergeant's mess concluded they would have a 
friendly bowl of punch. When the score was paid, they found that the 
entire monthly pay of one man was absorbed by that friendly bov/1 of 
punch. (Journal oi Joseph Buell.) 

(66.) General Harmar to Joseph Howell, Acting Paymaster General, 
U. S. A, June», 1790. 

(Wi.) General Harmar to Joseph Howell, June 9, 1790. 




40 




O THE WEST of the military reser- 
vation on which Fort Washington 
stood, two blocl-cs. as we now 
measure the distance, and on the 
street which extended along the 
northern boundary of the reser- 
vation, lay the little graveyard 
which received the dead of the gar. 
rison. 

Far away from the familiar 
scenes of childhood, far from the 
storm-lashed coast of New England or the plains 
and valleys of the Middle States, "after life's 
fitful dream had ended," these soldiers of the Re- 
public were received into the bosom of Mother Earth. 
With muffled drum and drooping colors, the mili- 
tary cortege was wont to pass along the narrow trail 
(67) leading from the garrison to the little graveyard. 
No vestige of the graveyard itself is left, it has fallen 
before man's greed for land; and there remains only the 
pathetic remembrance, that here the dust of the half- 
forgotten dead mingles with the soil, close to the 
bustling city thoroughfare. 

^ The ground devoted to burial purposes occupied 
the southern portion of the block bounded by Main, 
Walnut, Fourth, and Fifth streets in Cincinnati. On 
a portion of this ground there now stands the First 
Presbyterian Church, and even this 
comparatively modern structure has been 
strangely metamorphosed by recent ad- 
ditions; but its slender spire is still lifted 
skywards and literally points a fmger 
toward a higher world. 



((57.) The lines of the streets in Cincinnati had been 
laid out by the surveyor, Mr. Israel l,udlow, as far as 
Northern Row (7th Street), during the winter of 178P-90: 
but the streets were not entirely cleared of trees and 
underbrush until several years alter that time. 




60 




The AlANSi^iELE) Mouse. 

HuiU by Lieutenant-Colonel .Tared Manstield, U.S.A., mi llie site of the 
(ireat Gateway ot l<'ort Washington. 

Jared Mansfield was born in New Haven, Conn., May 2.S, 17.59. 
He was graduated from Yale College in the class of 1777, and subsequent 
thereto acquired such a reputation as a teacher and writer on scientific 
subjects that he was appointed a Captain of Engineers, U. S. Army, 
by President Jefferson, May '.i, 1802. He was one of the professors at 
West Point Military Academy in 1802-.S and in the fall of the latter 
year was assigned the duties of Survej'or-General of the Northwest 
Territory. This office he held until October 7, 1812, when he resumed his 
professorship at West Point and there remained until he resigned from the 
Army, August 31, 1828, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was en- 
gaged (1H19) on the boundary line commission between Niagara and De- 
troit ; and was consulting engineer for the state of Pennsylvania. Colonel 
Mansfield married a Miss Pliipps who came of the family of which Sir 
William Phipp.s, (iovernor of Massachu.setts, was a member. In 182.') 
Colonel Mansfield was honored by his Alma Mater with the degree of 
Llv D. After his resignation from the army he retired to New Haven, 
where he died February 3, 1830. 




Tara Fort Washington Monument 

THIRD STRISEX, CINCINNATI, OHIO. 



Erected igor, by the societies ok the; Mayflower, coloniai, 

WARS, colonial dames, SONS OF THE REVOLUTION, SONS OF THE 
AMERICAN REVOLUTION, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 
CHILDREN OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WAR OF l8l2, LOYAL LEGION. 





s^ 




ijijOw 


t\ 


^^^^ 


^sE.*'* 


1 


Mj^^JSH 


IK^ 


f 




nl 


p 


< -■" ".••i*' 



[HE ARMY OF the United States in 
these early days contained no chap- 
lains, so that the officers and men 
composing the garrison at Fort 
Washington, had to depend upon 
such religious services as might be 
held in the straggling, little hamlet 
below the fort. 

When Cincinnati was first laid 
out, certain lots were dedicated to 
the use of religion and education (68). The block of 
land already noted as containing the little graveyard 
used by the garrison, was also intended for the occupa- 
tion of a church and a school building. The poverty of 
the new settlement prevented the erection of a church 
building until 1792, although a church society (Presby- 
terian) had been formed in the preceding year. Be- 
tweeri the arrival of the first settled minister (69) and 
the erection of a church building, of a Sunday morning, 
the people gathered at the northwest corner of Fourth 
and Main streets and listened to the preaching, seated 
upon the fallen tree trunks, their rifles within easy 
reach, ready for instant use. 

So great was the apprehension of a sudden Indian at- 
tack upon the settlement, that on September 18, 1792, 
Winthi op Sargent, in the absence of Governor St.Clair, 
issued a proclamation calling on every man enrolled 
in the militia, when attending religious services, 
to "arm and equip himself as though he were marching 
to engage the enemy, or in default that he shall be 



(68.) I/3ts 100, 115. 139, 140. . ,■ ^f D„, 

(69 ) Rev Mr. James Kemper, an ear nest,, pious man, a native of Far- 
quier County, Va. 



51 



fined in the sum of one hundred cents" (70). At least 
one fine was imposed for failure to comply with this 
law. 

When the weather proved too stormy for holding 
these services in the open air, the congregation some- 
times assembled in the building of a little mill used for 
grinding corn, which stood between Third and Fourth 
streets near Vine. Here were no windows of stained 
glass, no hangings of rich tapestry, no strains of the 
organ resounding amid the carved columns and groined 
arches of a lofty nave ; but only the rough posts and 
rafters of a frontier corn mill, hung with the dusty cob- 
webs of the week. Here with eager attention, the 
audience listened to the story of One whose first temple 
was a stable, whose attendants were the simple fisher- 
folk of a Galilean lake. 

In June, 1792, and again in 1794, subscriptions were 
secured, first for the original construction of this Presby- 
terian Church, and then for its interior finish; as well 
as for a fence which should surround both church and 
graveyard. The list of subscribers contained the fol- 
lowing names of officers and ex-officers of the garrison 
at Fort Washington. 

Allison, Richard (Surgeon) 

Ford, Mahlon (Captain) 

Harrison, William Henry (Lieutenant) 
Mercer, John (Captain) 

Peters, William (Lieutenant) 

Shaylor, Joseph (Captain) 

Wade, John (Ensign) 

Wilkinson, James (Brigadier-General) 

Ziegler, David (Major) 

(70.) St. Clair Papers Vol. 11, p. SOd. 

52 



The careless life of the soldier had not obliterated 
the teachings of home; and it is pleasant to note the 
ready response given by the officers to this call for 
assistance from the first church organization within a 
reasonable distance of the garrison (71). 

(71.) The Baptists had organized a church at Columbia as early as 1790 
but this was nearly five miles distant from Fort Washington, rendering 
attendance from Cincinnati generally impracticable. 




63 




HERE WAS a serious side to life 
in the garrison during its earlier 
years; i^ut there was also not 
lacking amusement and relaxa- 
tion. From the atmosphere of 
bustling activity about the fort, 
went forth the battalions who 
marched with buoyant step, the 
scars of a former campaign cover- 
ed, if not healed, the empty places 
in the ranks filled with new re- 
cruits who had no acquaintance with disaster, fresh 
faces and new uniforms, hearts as yet untouched by 
the sorrow for lost comrades and with no gloomy fear 
of the future, for how could they suffer defeat. So fared 
they forth; but twice at least, within a few weeks of 
their departure, there hurried back to the fort's shelter- 
ing care, the broken remnant of an army, bruised, dis- 
heartened, wounded, and dying. 

To the old experienced campaigners, however, 
those to whom the hazard of life was no new thing, 
those who from Bunker Hill to Yorktown, had wit- 
nessed the ebb and flow of fortune, there 
came a settled philosophy which took things, good or 
ill, with unruffled serenity. 

Returning then from the various campaigns into 
the wilderness where even if life were spared, there 
had still been much of privation and suffering, at the 
very least a scarcity of food and fire and rooftree; what 
wonder that there was dining and wining at the quar- 
ters within the fort, a breaking of glasses to prevent 
"heeltaps," and a pledging of toasts in bumpers. 



54 



Towards the latter part of the fort's existence 
there were theatrical performances in the old "yellow 
house" of the Artificers' Yard which stood on the river 
brink in front of the fort, comic operas even ; and else- 
where races, for which dazzling purses were offered, as 
much as thirty-five and fifty dollars. Many an "ob- 
long," as the three dollar bills of the old Bank of the 
United States were locally called, changed hands at 
these races, not to mention the more modest "sharp 
shin" of silver, cut from a Spanish milled dollar to sup- 
ply the local needs. 

In November of 1801, a much milder amusement 
was provided, a singing school for ladies and gentle- 
men, where for ;^2.oo for a whole quarter's lessons, 
the gay young ensigns and cadets of the fort might 
meet the eyes of demurely roguish maidens, as the soft 
modulations of Coronation and Duke Street were given 
by the class. 

Anon just before Christmas of that same year, a 
performance was advertised at the "Cincinnati 
Theater," "THE POOR SOLDIER and Peeping Tom 
Coventry." "Doors to be opened at half past five 
and the performance to begin at half past six pre- 
cisely." 

For the more serious-minded of the garrison, there 
was the mental relaxation afforded by books. The 
officers had a taste for reading, and some a love for 
especially fine books. One officer in writing about a 
certain encyclopedia which had been ordered in the 
East, said : "I want the most elegant edition which 
can be procured." 

For those who could not afford the luxury of very 
fine books, the advertisement of one Cincinnati book- 
seller discloses such a wealth of reading matter as, 
"Assembly Catechism, Abelard & Eloise, American 



55 



Farmer, Beauties of Watts, Beauties of Fielding, Mrs. 
Moore's Works, Philip Quarle. Citizen of the World, 
Everyone his own Lawyer, Butler's Analogy, and Vic- 
ar of Wakefield." There must have been those who 
scoffed at this modest mental pabulum, and thought it 
too circumscribed, for a month later a meeting was 
called to consider the establishment of a library in 
Cincinnati. 

In the year 1800, and possibly a little before that 
time a distillery was in operation within the narrow 
confines of the Deer Creek Valley (72). It was the 
one, lone building in all that region, half shadowed by 
the beetling sides of Mount Adams on the east, and 
surrounded by the oaks, sugar trees, and water maples, 
which constituted the original forest growth. 

Festoons of wild grapevine hung from tree to tree, 
and in the days of early autumn, the morning-glory 
spread its gay colors over the ruins of stump and fallen 
tree top. 

The two, well-beaten trails, which led to this dis- 
tillery, one from Fort Washington and the other from 
the straggling little hamlet upon which the fort looked 
down, offered mute testimony to the popularity of the 
institution. The loneliness of its situation did not 
deter visitors from passing under the low portal, they 
being bravely determined no doubt to "keep their 
spirits up, by pouring spirits down." 

When General Wilkinson, a very polished man, 
was stationed at Fort Washington, about 1796, he lived 
in what was considered very great style. 

He had the first carriage in Cincinnati, so tradition 
says, and a spanking team to pull it. He entertained 



(72.) Address before the Cincinnati Medical I<ibrary Assn., Jan. 9, 1852, 
by Dr. Daniel Drake. 



in a handsome, almost lavish manner, assisted by the 
gracious lady, his wife, and the entertainments were 
not confined to banquets and balls on the land. 

Some of his boat-parties had a flavor of the old 
world sports upon the Adriatic. The gaily decorated 
barge, the boatmen, some twenty-five or thirty in 
number, laboring with oar and pole to propel the craft, 
the music rolling over the moon-lit water to the echoing 
hills beyond, the banquet, the elegant costumes of the 
guests, and the charming hospitality of the host, (73) 
made the scene one of bright coloring, framed in by the 
sombre-wooded hillsides which rose from the river's 
brink. 

(78.) Recollections, by H. M. Brackenridge. 




67 




F THE PUBLIC functions in which 
Fort Washington and its garrison 
took a prominent part, may be 
mentioned two which possess spe- 
cial interest. One of these was 
the celebration of the Fourth of 
July, 1799 (74). The guns of the 
fort boomed a salute at daybreak, 
and after a grand parade, the offi- 
cers attended a banquet where a 
great many long and formal toasts 
were proposed to the memory of the dead and the 
health of the living. In the evening a brilliant com- 
pany assembled at one of the town houses, where, ac- 
cording to the reporter of that day, "it is impossible to 
describe the ecstatic pleasure that appeared to be en- 
joyed by all present at the Celebration of the Auspi- 
cious Day, and the scene closed in perfect harmony" 

(75). 

During the following winter, an occasion of sad- 
ness was presented in the memorial funeral of the great 
man in whose honor the fort had been named. Owing 
to delay in the transmission of mails, the news of 
Washington's death did not reach Cincinnati until late 



(74.) The fort was at this time commanded by Captain Edward Miller. 
He was born in Middlesex County, Connecticut, June W, 1756, being the 
son of Tared Miller and Elizabeth Center. Edward Miller w^as one of 
those who responded to the first call to arms in the Revolutionary stnts- 
gle, serving as ensign in the "Lexington Alarm" He was commissioned 
Reutenant m the Second Regiment of Infantry, United States Army, Feb- 
ruary 21, 179a. He had married, October 10, 17K3, Elizabeth Rockwell, 
daughter of Samuel Rockwell and Abigail Johnson, and brought his 
family to Fort Washington in 1798. After his retirement from the army, 
he resided for some years in Clermont County, Ohio, and died in Columbia 
Township, Hamilton County, July 6, 18'23. As a Mason— a member of the 
Army l,odge — he is said to have been associated with Washington during 
the Revolution. 

(76.) Appendix IV. 



58 



in the month of January, 1800, and the first day of 
February was set apart for fitting memorial services. 
These services included a military funeral, in which the 
troops from Fort Washington immediately preceded the 
horse "with saddle, holsters and pistols, and boots re- 
versed," which represented that of General Wash- 
ington" (76). 

As the echo of the last volley of musketry died 
away among the hills, one might have felt that the old 
fort was destined soon to pass away, even as had its 
great namesake. 

(76.) Appendix V. 




69 




Y THE YEAR 1802, the fort was 
shorn of most of its military glory. 
In the report of the Secretary of 
War to Congress, written in Dec- 
ember, 1 801; it was proposed for 
the year 1802, to divide one com- 
pany of infantry between Pitts- 
burg and Cincinnati {jy), so that 
Fort Washington would have but 
half a company. 

In the year 1803, the United States 
acquired title by purchase and gift, to a tract of land, 
some six acres in all, in Newport, Ky., lying at the 
confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers. 

On this new reservation buildings were erected, 
and when completed in 1804, the old flag was lowered 
and Fort Washington abandoned; the little garrison 
which still occupied the old post being transferred to 
the Newport Barracks (78). 



(77.) Published Report of the Sec'y of War in Western Spy & Hamilton 
Gazette. Jan. 30, 1802. 

(78.) Thi.s post was in active occupation during the War of 1812, the 
Mexican, and the Civil War. A new post, Fort Thomas, having been erect- 
ed on the bluffs overlooking the Ohio River, 7 miles above the I^icking, in 
1894, the Newport Barracks were then abandoned after an occupation of 
ninety years and the buildings demolished or moved away. 




6C 




COPY OF MAP IN PLAT, BOOK 1. 

ICITY ENGINEEH'S OFFICE. J 

PLAN 

OF THE FIFTEEN ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS 
IN CINCINNATI. 

Certified this 8th day of July, 1807. 

Signed: JARED MANSFIELD, 

Surv. Qen'l. 




HE TROOPS, having been re- 
moved to Newport Barracks, it re- 
mained for the general government 
only to dispose of the buildings 
and the land on which Fort Wash- 
ington stood. Authority for such 
disposal was conferred by an act of 
congress in 1806, the title of which 
is as follows: 
"An Act 
Authorizing the sale of a tract of land, in the town 
of Cincinnati, and State of Ohio." 

This act was signed by Nath. Macon, Speaker of 
the House of Representatives; Geo. Clinton, Vice Pres- 
ident of the United States and President of the Senate; 
and was approved by Thomas Jefferson, February 28, 
1806 (79). 

Under the authority of this act, Captain Jared 
Mansfield, Surveyor General, made a survey and pre- 
pared the plat to which he gave his certificate dated 
July 8, 1807 (80). 

The sale of the land was advertised by Daniel 
Symmes, Recorder, and James Findlay, Receiver, to 
take place on the "first Thursday of March next." 
(March 14, 1808) (81). 



(79.) Published in I^iberty Hall & Cincinnati Mercury, February 22, 
1(^8. 

(80.) This certificate which is written on the plat, reads as follows: "I do 
hereby certify that agreeably to instructions from the Secretary of the 
Treasury, I have surveyed, or caused to be surx'eyed, and laid off into lots, 
streets and alleys, the fifteen acres of land belonging to the United Slates 
King in the town of Cincinnati, in the form and manner exhibited in the 
Plat, and the field notes of the Survey are deposited in the office of this de- 
partment. Certified this 8th day of July 1807, Jared Mansfield Surv. Gen'l." 

(81.) I,iberty Hall & Cincinnati Mercury, January 15, JS08. 



61 



The land embraced in the Military Reservation 
about Fort Washington having thus been divided into 
lots and sold, the incident was for a time closed. 

About 20 years later, however, a controversy arose 
as to the location of certain lots adjoining the fort, and 
in order to settle this matter it became necessary to de- 
termine as precisely as possible the original location of 
Fort Washington itself. This controversy finding its way 
at last into the United States Court, Seventh Circuit, 
District of Ohio, was tried before the December Term 
for 1829. The case is for Ejectment, Lessee of Harmer 
Heirs vs. David Gwynne and George Morris. The testi- 
mony is voluminous, embracing numerous depositions 
of parties who had been familiar with the original loca- 
tion or construction of the fort. Among the depositions 
was that of John Cleves Symmes, made in i8og 
(82). Besides the deposition, a map made by 
Joseph Gest, then city surveyor of Cincinnati, 
was presented in court, and the witnesses interro- 
gated concerning it. The map was identified by 
the witnesses as a substantially true and correct 
representation of the situation of the fort with 
regard to street lines and corners. The map itself bears 
on its face a certificate signed by Joseph Gest, to the 
effect that it was prepared, "Pursuant to an order of the 
Circuit Court of the United States, Seventh Circuit, 
Ohio District, of December Term 1828, Monday 29," 
after the parties interested had gone over the ground 
with him(83). Besides this certificate on the map itself, 
Joseph Gest made deposition before one of the Judges 
of Hamilton County, in which he recites the manner of 
making the survey and the map(84). The certificate on 



(82.) Appendix. VI. 
(83.) Appendix. VII. 
(84.) Appendix. VIII. 



62 



the map and the deposition by Joseph Gest, both idenr 
tify the map as the official instrument made by order 
of the United States Court. 

Daniel Drake, a distinguished physician of Cincin- 
nati, was also one of the deponents in this case; having 
doubtless been selected by reason of his intimate knowl- 
edge of Fort Washington and its surroundings. He had 
lived in the garrison prior to its abandonment; and after 
the land was sold in 1808, he purchased several lots, 
built upon one of them, and resided there for upwards of. 
eleven years. 

The southeast blockhouse of Fort Washington stood, 
upon the land purchased by the doctor, and the locality 
came to be called "Drake's Corner." 

Regarding the accuracy of the map prepared by 
Joseph Gest, Doctor Drake says: "I was present on the 
site of Fort Washington at the time that Joseph Gest,the 
City Surveyor, made a survey of the foundation of. 
that Fort, a plat and description of which is now before 
me, and I believe that the lines and angles are accurate 
as it is possible to fix them" (85). 

John Cleves Symmes, at the time of this trial in 
(829, had been dead some fifteen years, but a deposition 
^ade by him in 1809 was submitted as evidence in this 
;ase. Symmes testifies to the building of Fort Washing- 
ton by Major John Doughty in the fall of 1789. He also 
states, that, of certain lots laid out to the east of Fort 
Washington, eight had been purchased by General 
Josiah Harmar (86) at a cost of thirty-two pounds, 
Pennsylvania currency. William Berry (87) and Wil-. 
Ham H. Orcutt(88)had been soldiers at Fort Washington, 



(85.) Appendix. IX. 

(86.) Appendix. VI. 

(87.) Appendix. X. 

(88.) Appendix. XI. 



the first in 1792, and the other three years earlier when 
the ground was originally cleared for the erection 
of the blockhouses. Their testimony shows the fort to 
have had four blockhouses, arranged in the form of a 
square, while westward of this rectangle was an Arti- 
ficers' Yard (89) "somewhat in the form of a triangle." 
This triangular extension to the main fort had a block- 
house at its western end. 

The size and number of the rooms in the barracks is 
also stated. Both witnesses agree in saying that Drake's 
Corner was the southwest corner of Third and Ludlow, 
and that the southeast blockhouse of Fort Washington 
stood on Drake's Corner. 

One David Lewis, whom the deposition describes 
as a man "exceeding the age of sixty years,'' adds his 
testimony to the effect that Fort Washington formed a 
square, was wholly east of"Eastern Row" (Broadway), 
and had its principal front facing the river (90). 

The testimony of Griffin Yeatman who had come 
to Cincinnati in the year 1793, relates mostly to the 
location of lots owned by General Harmar; but he speaks 
of the St. Clair Cellar (mentioned also in the Lewis 
deposition) which was west of Major Ruffin's (the early 
Postoffice), and he also certifies to the general correct- 
ness of the location given by Joseph Gest's map (91). 

The evidence in support of the location of Fort 
Washington as laid down on the map accompanying 
this paper includes then: 
rC*-'^^/ ist. The testimony offered by General Mansfield's 

r' original plat of the Military Reservation (1807), which 



(89.) There were two Artificers' Yards in connection with Fort Wash- 
ington. One was on the west ; while the other and much larger yard, cm- 
bracing about two acres of land, was situated upon the river bank in front 
sf the fort, and contained the famous "Yellow House." 

(90.) Appendix. XII. 

(91.) Appendix. XIII. 

64 



St 



fixes the location of the various blocks and lots laid out 
upon them. 

2nd. The map of Mr. Joseph Gest, City Surveyor, 
made in compliance with an order of the United States 
Court, December Term 1828; and exhibited in the same 
court during the trial of the case of Harmer Heirs vs. 
David Gwynne and George Morris, December Term, 
1829; including with this, the certificate of Joseph Gest, 
written on the face of the map. 

3rd. The depositions of Joseph Gest, Daniel Drake, 
John Cleves Symmes, William Berry, William H. 
Orcutt. David Lewis, and Griffin Yeatman. 

It may be here noted that the map of Joseph Gest, 
City Surveyor, gives the location of the various blocks 
and lots in the subdivision of the Military Reservation, 
thus repeating General Mansfield's map in this respect. 
Gest, however, gives also the position of the four 
blockhouses with regard to the streets and lots. The 
location of the lots is an important matter, as it makes 
it possible to examine the legal records of each lot, 
the original purchaser, and the transfer, mortgages, etc., 
all of which adds concurrent testimony to that offered 
in the case under trial. 

The only clash of evidence offered in the deposi- 
tions, appears in the first part of the testimony of Wil- 
liam H. Orcutt, where he speaks of the Garrison as 
having a width of "About 120 feet." He then says : 
"there were six Barrack rooms in each row of 
about 20 feet each" and adds over his second sig- 
nature, that "there were three Barrack rooms on 
each side of the gate facing the river." It is 
evident that in speaking of the width of the "Garri- 
son" as being "about 120 feet," Mr. Orcutt had 
in mind the barrack buildings only, which were 
located in the middle of each face of the fort (a common 

65 



arrangement in frontier forts), and not the entire width 
or length of the fort itself. His after qualification as 
to the arrangement of the rooms on each side of the 
gateway, would, allowing for the width of the gateway 
which was twelve feet, and the thickness of the par- 
titions and end walls, make the South Barracks about 
one hundred and thirty-five feet long; and to this must 
be added the blockhouses at the angles and the pali- 
sade work connecting the ends of the barrack buildings 
with the blockhouses. This point has thus been spe- 
cifically alluded to, in order to explain the apparent 
conflict of testimony between William H. Orcutt and 
Daniel Drake; Joseph Gest having marked upon his 
map, Orcutt's location as taken from the first part of 
his testimony, as well as the location sworn to by 
Daniel Drake. 

Such explanation reconciles all apparent differences, 
and makes the evidence offered by maps and deposi- 
tions agree in all essential particulars. Not only is 
this the case, but other valuable testimony such as that 
offered by military correspondence, the description of 
Fort Washington by Rev. Oliver Spencer (92), and 
the sketch of the fort made by Captain Jonathan 
Heart in 1791, bears out the testimony offered in court. 

It may be observed further, that the records of early 
deeds and mortgages in the office of the Recorder of 
Hamilton County, mention the location of the lots 
purchased by Daniel Drake on which the map of 
Joseph Gest, City Surveyor, as well as the testimony 
of Doctor Drake and William B. Orcutt, fixes the loca- 



(92.) A well known Methodist clergyman, who as a child was captured 
by the Indians at a point between Kort Washinpfton and Columbia. The 
only particular in which Rev. Mr. Spencer's description (see Appendix 
XIV.) fails to agree with others, is in determining the point of the com- 
pass at which the Artificers' Yard projected from the main fort. This 
matter is often confusing by reason of the direction in which certain 
streets run. 



66 



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fion of the southeast blockhouse. The house built by 
Dr. Drake on lot No. 2, is still standing (1902), on the 
south side of Third Street, the third house west of 
Ludlow Street, and it is at present numbered 429. In 
the cornice of the parlor of this old house, there yet 
remains a medallion, in high relief, of George 
Washington; an eminently appropriate tribute to the 
great man for whom the fort was named. 

The maps of Mansfield and Gest fix the location 
of lot No. 4, Square 2, on which General Mansfield 
built his home. This house, which is still stand- 
ing (1902) on the south side of Third Street, is the 
sixth house west from Ludlow Street, and bears the 
number 423. Here stood the gateway of the fort. 

The maps of Mansfield and Gest also determine 
the location of lot No. 7 of Square 2, and the latter's 
map shows the situation thereupon of the southwest 
blockhouse of Fort Washington. This lot was once 
occupied by the famous Trollopean Bazar, but the 
land is now covered by the "Lorraine Building." 




'4: J 



67 



§-M 



ORTY YEARS elapsed between the 
building of the blockhouse and 
the erection of that " Greco- 
Moresco - Gothic - Chinese - looking 
building " which, it was hoped, 
would be the making of the Trol- 
lope fortunes (93). Less than 
this period of time had sufficed to 
change the primeval wilderness 
into a thriving and bustling little 
city. Where the Indian had been wont to prowl about, 
under the very walls of the fort, stealing pack horses 
and other movable property; there had arisen, as if by 
magic, buildings of frame and brick, churches and 
schools, markets, business houses, and homes. 

A madness for high-sounding names seems to have 
clung to the very walls of the old bazar through its 
checkered fortunes of more than half a century; for 
what was in 1829 a " Literary-Athenreum-Bazar," 
after passing from the hands of the Trollopes, is 
described as the "Literary-Botanico-Medical-College." 
Only the young and light-hearted escaped the spell of 
failure and unhappiness which lay upon the building. 
In the early thirties the young folks climbed the stair- 
ways, which, from either side of the central entrance, 
led to the second story, to attend the dancing classes 
there conducted by M. Guibert ; while Tosso discoursed 
sweet music upon his violin. The measured tread of 
the frontier sentinel was now exchanged for the fast 
flying steps of the dancers ; and where once the rollick- 
cos.) Appendix XV. 



68 




Bazar Built by Madame Trollope in i820 

ON THE SITE OF TflE SOUTHWEST BLOCKHOUSE 
OF FORT WASHINOTON. 



ing song of the camp fire had echoed from the rough 
walls and rafters of the frontier blockhouse, there now 
lingered the strains of "Money Musk" and the "Arkan- 
sas Traveler," or the more stately measures of the 
Cotillion. 

After a sad deterioration in manners and morals, 
the old bazar was torn down to make way for the 
present structure in 1886. 




69 




BOUT THE YEAR 1899, an awak- 
ened interest in the early history 
of the western country, brought 
about an effort to relocate and 
mark the site of Fort Washington 
at Cincinnati, and foremost among 
the organizations which took part 
in this laudable endeavor, was the 
Society of Colonial Wars. 
There was not wanting literature of a certain kind 
which touched upon the fort. Some of the early travel- 
ers to this region had alluded to Cincinnati in the ac- 
count of their journeys, and there was, moreover, a 
limited cartography relating to the fort. 

Doctor Daniel Drake, graphic and picturesque m his 
description of this country as it was in the beginning of 
the last century, had depicted upon the map of Cincinnati 
which accompanied his "Statistical View in 181 5," the 
location of Fort Washington. The map was, however, 
engraved to such a small scale (825 feet to i inch, or 
5?V^ actual size) that any attempt to enlarge the outline 
of the fort and its surrounding streets must result, if 
used for the purpose of relocation, in magnifying such 
errors in size and location as inevitably creep into the 
reproduction of any object to a very small scale (94). 
Four years after the publication of the "Statistical 
View," that is in 1819, a directory of Cincinnati was 



(94. ) Drake in the preface to his work states that the map was drawn 
to a scale of 800 feet to one inch. This scale was, however, reduced in the 
process of reproducing the map, so that the engpraving .shows a scale of 825 
leet to one inch. 

N. B. The map prepared by Jo.seph Gest was drawn to a scale of 100 feet 
to 1 inch, or eight times as large as the original from which Doctor Drake's 
map was engraved. 



70 



issued by Oliver Farnsworth. This directory also con- 
tained a map of Cincinnati, engraved to scale of tttst ac- 
tual size, showing a location of the fort generally similar 
to that given in Doctor Drake's work. 

Colton's Atlas (Ed. 1855), and Gray's Atlas (Ed. 
1873), contain maps of Cincinnati on which Fort Wash- 
ington is shown. Both maps are engraved to a scale of 
itItt actual size. 

In 1888, Doctor A. E. Jones, an enthusiastic archae- 
ologist, wrote an interesting little volume on early days 
in Cincinnati, in which he shows the location of the fort 
upon a map drawn to a scale of jzhi actual size. 
The location given by Dr. Jones appears to be about 
the same as that given by Drake, Farnsworth, Colton, 
and Gray. 

It was felt that a relocation, based on these di- 
minutive representations of Fort Washington, would not 
answer the demand for accurate work, and the writer 
therefore began a search for other material upon which 
to base an authentic determination of the original site of 
the fort. 

Knowing that a map of Fort Washington had been 
made at the time of its construction, and that this map 
had been transmitted to the Secretary of War (95), ap- 
plication was made to the Department, for information 
concerning it. 

A careful search through the records of the 
Engineer Department, Adjutant General's Office, and 
War Department at large, failed to discover the much 
desired map. The true explanation of its disappearance 
is undoubtedly that given by the Adjutant General's 
Ofifice, as follows : "It is to be explained that most of 
the records of the War Department prior to i8oo were 

(95.) I,etter of General Harmar, Jan. 14, 1790. See Appendix II. 

71 



consumed in a fire which occurred in the War Depart- 
ment building during that year ; that another fire con- 
sumed many records in 1809, and the greater portion of 
such as had accumulated up to that date were either 
burned or lost at the time of the visit of the British 
troops to the City of Washington in 1814." 

There still remained a chance of procuring original 
data. The field notes of Surveyor General Mansfield, 
which contained the survey of the Reservation already 
alluded to, would, if found, undoubtedly give the desired 
information concerning the location of the fort. The 
lines run by Mansfield must have crossed and recrossed 
many times the area covered by the fort, itself, and, in 
fact, must have encountered the very walls of the fort 
as a resistance to further progress. A search through 
departments at Washington and the state records at 
Columbus, O., failed to find these notes. 

It was at this juncture that the search for authentic 
data concerning the old fort was carried into the offices 
of the Recorder and Auditor of Hamilton County, the 
records of the United States Circuit Court, the plat- 
books of the City Engineer's Office, and the files of early 
newspapers. 

This search resulted in the finding of the maps of 
Mansfield and Gest in the City Engineer's Office ; and 
the depositions in the case of Harmer Heirs vs. David 
Gwynne and George Morris, in the United States Cir- 
cuit Court Records, already discussed in the case of the 
controversy over land adjoining the fort. These docu- 
ments mutually supplemented each other ; and the old 
newspapersmilitary correspondence, and county records, 
together with a survey of the locality about the fort, 
added whatever else was essential. 

The relocation of Fort Washington was now com- 
pleted and its site marked by a suitable monument, 

72 



which was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, June 
14, 1901. 

This monument is built of native Ohio stone, in the 
form of a blockhouse standing about nine feet above 
the ground ; and it is surrounded by a chain railing sup- 
ported by four old cannon. 

The face of the monument towards the west carries 
two bronze tablets, the upper one of these containing 
the dedicatory inscription. 

The lower tablet contains an outline map of the 
main portion of the fort, together with the streets wiiich 
intersected it or which surrounded the area upon which it 
stood, shown in boldly relieved lines. 




78 




T THE FORMAL dedication of the 
monument which now marks the 
site of Fort Washington, an inter- 
esting coincidence presented itself. 
In the year 1791, the Second Regi- 
ment of hifantry was organized at 
Fort Washington, a little prior to 
starting out on the ill-fated cam- 
paign of General St, Clair, when 
Major Heart, the first commandant 
of the regiment, was slain, together with many other 
officers and men of the regiment, on the 4th of Novem- 
ber of the same year. At the dedication of the monu- 
ment in 1901, a detachment of this Second Regiment 
was present and took part in the ceremonies. The 
trim blue-clad soldiers who stood about the monument 
in 1901, were the legal heirs, so to speak, of the old 
Second Regiment which had gone forth to battle from 
the same spot, one hundred and ten years before. 

Four buglers from the regiment stood at "Attention" 
by the old guns which formed the railing around the 
the monument. At the word of command, they gave 
out clearly and distinctly the "'reveille." The call had 
been sounded by the trumpeters of the old regiment 
more than a century before, waking the slumbering 
echoes of the valley and startling the wild bird from 
its nest, as the silver notes rolled across the shimmerin^z 
waters of the Ohio, or v/ere hurled back with increased 
volume from the forest-clad hills behind the fort. 

Then came the final " taps," always of mournful 
association, as the last [tribute of the living to the 
memory of the dead; and in this case, as it seemed, a 



fitting conclusion to the obsequies of those who had 
passed for the last time the frowning portal of old 
Fort Washington. 




fs 



* J J' fl 



75 



APPENDIX I— Narrative of Thomas Gregory 

OF Cincinnati, O.— My grandfather, Jonathan Gregory, 
came to the West under General St. Clair. Although he was 
two years younger than the required age, and had no queue 
(which was one of the requirements of the enlisted men) ; his 
sister cut off her braid and supplied that portion of the outfit, 
that he might go. 

He reached Columbia, the settlement of Hezekiah Stites, on 
the night of the fight between the settlers and the Indians, the 
latter being whipped and routed back on to what is now called 
Bold Hill. The victory was so complete (the Indians losing all 
their corn in addition to the fight) that the settlers had a great 
jollification, at which some of the participants indulged too freely, 
resulting in a fight among themselves. 

My grandfather and his brother, who had preceded him down 
the river, afterwards went to Lexington, Ky., where they assist- 
ed in erecting the first houses of that settlement, and returned 
again to Northern Kentucky opposite the Stites settlement, or 
Columbia, on the Ohio River, just below the mouth of the Lit- 
tle Miami River, where my father and I were born. 

These early settlers had a local " league " or understanding 
that at the conclusion of the annual Harvest, they were to meet 
at the '' Congo Tree" on Crawfish, at about the present site of 
Wortman's Corner (Delta and Eastern Avenues) where there 
was a magnificent spring to furnish water, and there celebrate 
the Harvest Home with three weeks dancing and feasting. My 
sister Ellen and I were privileged to carry the breakfast, dinner, 
and supper daily to my father, who was an enthusiastic attend- 
ant at these occasions. 

My father, Thomas Gregory, lived in Campbell County, 
Kentucky, on the hill back of what is now " Hartvvegs Land- 
ing," a mile or so below the present Newport Water Works. 

Near the edge of the high river bank on the Ohio side of the 
river, at a point about one-half mile below the mouth of the Lit- 
tle Miami River, there stood a blockhouse which in 1832 was 
occupied by a family named Hart, but owned by Athan Stites, a 
son of Hezekiah Stites and nephew of Captain Benjamin Stites 
who were among the first settlers of Columbia in 1788. 

This blockhouse was occupied in 1832 as a dwelling house, 
by a family consisting of two young women, Catherine and 
Mary Hart, and their brother, Jacob, a lad of about my own age, 

76 



(9 years). The oldest daughter afterward married Athan Stites. 
One day in the year 1832 one of the young women alluded to 
(Catherine) crossed the river in a boat and coming to my father's 
house requested as a favor that 1 might be allowed to come and 
live at their house (the blockhouse) so as to be company for 
their young brother Jacob. 

My father granted the request and I accordingly went to 
live with the family in the blockhouse, remaining there about 
three years. 

During those three years, say 1832-1834 inclusive, 1 lived in 
the blockhouse and have a clear idea of its size and location, in 
part from the fact that a brick house of Athan Stites,which is still 
standing, was built at some time within the three years I mention, 
and this brick house was constructed facing the river at a point 
about 100 feet back of the blockhouse and had its western end at 
about the center of the blockhouse. 

I am led to remember the relative position of the brick house, 
and the blockhouse in which I lived, from the circumstance that 
with the other lad, Jacob Hart, I assisted in carrying brick to the 
mason who was employed to build the house. We each piled 
up a few bricks on a short board and thus carried them to where 
he was at work. 

The blockhouse was about eighteen feet wide and twenty- 
four feet long with the gable end towards the Ohio River and 
very close to the edge of the bank. 

The building was constructed of round logs about the size of 
a man's body, unhewed, but notched together at the corners. It 
contained two rooms divided by a rough partition of split logs, 
afterwards changed to a board partition, and above the first story 
was a high garret or attic. The roof was covered with split logs 
secured by wooden pins, afterwards replaced by clap-boards. 
There was a puncheon floor, later removed for a more modern 
substitute. The attic projected over the lower story and was 
provided with port or loop holes for rifles. A large stone 
chimney stood in the middle of the gable end farthest from the 
river. This chimney was built outside of the logwork, but the 
fireplace opened into the lower room. This fireplace was large 
enough to take in logs about four feet in length and at night it 
furnished our light, for lamps of any kind were very scarce. 

The front of tlie liouse, facing the Ohio River, had a win- 
dow and door in the lower story and a small window in attic. 

77 



There was a window opening on each side of the house in the 
back room and anotlier small window in the attic facing away 
from the river. The door was a heavy one secured by a bar, and 
the windows were protected by sohd plank shutters. 

Early in the spring of 1838 during a high stage of the river, 
two steamboats were passing the blockhouse at about the same 
time, and the swells from these boats caused the bank to cave 
away and the old blockhouse to fall into the river. 

The day on which this accident occurred was the same as 
that on which the boilers of the Steamer Moselle exploded, at 
Fulton, (April 25, 1838). 

The above is a true statement, as I remember the events of 
the old blockhouse, which was said to have been built soon after 
the landing of Benjamin Stites and his brother Hezekiah, with 
other settlers, just below the Little Miami River, on Novem- 
ber 18, 1788. 

THOMAS GREGORY. 

The above account of the Stites blockhouse at Columbia on 
Sec. 29— Tp. 5 — F. R. I, was given in my presence and I hereby 
bear witness to it and to ,the signature of Thomas Gregory the 
narrator. 

FRANK C. STOUT. 

Sworn to and Subscribed in my presence this the i5lh day of 
January, 1902. 
(SEAL.) Walter Stone, 

Notary Public, Hamilton County, O. 



78 



APPENDIX Il.-LETTER FROM GENERAL HARMAk TO 

GENERAL KNOX. 
HEADQUARTERS, 

Fort Washington, January 14, 1790. 

SIR:— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 29th October last, to which 1 shall now particularly 
reply. 

The Governor of the Western Territory arrived at this post 
on the 2d instant, and departed from hence on the 5th for the 
Illinois country. I furnished him, agreeable to his request, with 
an escort of fifty chosen men under the immediate command of 
Lieut. Doyle. Major Wyllys accompanies him on this tour. 1 
did not leave the Muskingum until the 24th ult, being detained 
so long waiting for his and the Pay-master's arrival there. We 
were four days upon our passage. The distance from thence to 
this garrison (which is directly opposite the mouth of Licking 
River), is about three hundred miles. Major Doughty is left to 
command at Fort Harmar. 

This will be one of the most solid, substantial wooden for- 
tresses, when finished, of any in the Western Territory. It is 
built of hewn timber, a perfect square, two stories high, with four 
blockhouses at the angles. I am particularly indebted to Cap- 
tain Ferguson and Lieutenant Pratt, for their indefatigable in- 
dustry and attention in forwarding the work thus far. The plan 
is Major Doughty's. On account of its superior excellence, I 
have thought proper to honor it with the name of Fort IVash- 
ington. The public ought to be benefited by the sale of these 
buildings whenever we evacuate them, although they will cost 
them but little. 

About forty or fifty Kentucky boats have begun, and will 
complete it. Limestone is the grand mart of Kentucky ; when- 
ever boats arrive there tliey are scarcely of any value to the 
owners ; they are frequently set adrift in order to make room for 
the arrival of others. I have contracted for the above number for 
the moderate price of from one to two dollars each ; thus much 
for the plank work. All other expenses (wagon hire, nails, and 
some glass excepted), are to be charged to the labor of the 
troops. The lime we have burned ourselves, and the stone is at 
hand. Be pleased to receive the inclosed plan of the fort. The 
distance between the Little and Great Miami is twenty-eight 
measured miles. Near the Little Miami there is a settlement 

79 



called Columbia; here (seven miles distance from Columbia), 
there is another named Losanteville. but lately changed to Cin- 
cinnati, and Judge Symmes himself resides at the other, about 
fifteen miles from hence, called the Miami City, at the north bend 
of the Ohio river. They are, in general, but small cabins, and 
the inhabitants of the poorer class of people. 

It is very probable that the Creek nation, under Mr. 
AVGillivray, may be troublesome on the frontiers of Georgia. 
&c., during the ensuing summer, and especially as you inform me 
that the commissioners who were appointed to hold a treaty with 
them, returned from the Omee river unsuccessful. 

1 observe that tlie Governor of the Western Territory is em- 
powered by the President of the United States, in case the hos- 
tilities of the Indians should render the measure inevitable, to 
call on the nearest counties of Pennsylvania and Virginia for 
militia — not exceeding, in the whole, fifteen hundred — to act in 
conjunction with the federal troops, in such operations, offensive 
and defensive, as the said Governor and the commanding officer 
of tlie troops, conjointly, shall judge necessary for the public 
service, and protection of the inhabitants and posts. You may 
rest assured, sir, that in all these cases, the most f>erfect harmony 
will ever subsist between the Governor and myself. 

By this time it is presumed Congress is convened, and that 
inste:\d of a temporary, a permanent establishment of the troops 
will be made. 

Lieutenant .Armstrong, 1 see, has been writing to the War 
Office about brevet rank. He is a valuable officer, but instead of 
troubling you upon the occasion, it is my opinion he should have 
represented his grievances, if any there were, unto his command- 
ing officer. 

By the latest advices from Major Hamtramck he writes roe 
that he had manoeuvred in such a manner as to divide the Weea 
Indians, and that eighty of tlieir warriors had come into Post 
Vincennes, and put themselves under the protection of the 
United States. This may be considered as a very favorable cir- 
cumstance, provided these yellow gentry adhere to their alle- 
giance. 

The difficulty of forwarding my disp.itches from this post to 
the War Office, is great. Up tiie river, from here to Fort Pitt, is 
about five hundred miles ; it is too fatiguing to be monthly send- 
ing a boat against tiie stream for the purpose, unless an extra- 

80 



ordinary occasion should require it. I am therefore making ar- 
rangements to send my letters to Danville, in Kentucky, from 
thence to be forwarded through the wilderness and deposited in 
the postoffice at Richmond, which I believe to be the most expe- 
ditious conveyance. 

1 have the honor to be, &c., 

Jos. harmar. 

The Honorable Major — General Knox, Secretary at War, 
New York. 




81 



APPENDIX III —LETTERS FROM GENERAL WAYNE. 
HEADQUARTERS, 

GREENVILLE, 8th June 1794. 
MESSRS. ELLIOT & WILLIAMS, 

GENTLEMEN :— Having fully and confidentially communi- 
cated to your Robt. Elliot the orders that I have received from 
the Executive & the critical situation of America & of this 
Legion threatened with an immediate attack from a heterogenous 
Army composed of British troops, the AAilitia of Detroit & all 
the hostile Savage tribes under the conduct of the famous Gov- 
ernor Simcoe from the West, & by some European powers on 
the ocean & Atlantic States.— 

I have now to desire you to make every possible exertion to 
send forward every supply of provision & to load all the horses 
belonging to your own & the Q. M. Generals department with 
the flour now at Fort Hamilton; the articles of Salt,Soap and Vine- 
gar are also essentially necessary at this crisis ; as it is more timn 
probable that the enemy will direct their attention in force against 
our Convoys, this will be the last trip of the waggons from Fort 
Washington to the head of the line for a length of time. Nor 
can we count upon more than two trips of the Pack Horses 
between this & Fort Hamilton, as the period of offensive is not 
more than three weeks distant, when every arrangement must be 
perfected for a:forward move, or to repel the attacks of the 
Enemy. 

You will therefore proceed at Reveille tomorrow morning with 
the Escort to make the necessary & final arangements in your 
department on the present momentous occasion. 

With a full reliance upon your exertions & cordial co-oper- 
ation in sending forward the required supplies 

I am Gentlemen your Most Obdt. Hum. servt. 

(COPY) ANTY WAYNE. 



JOHN BELLI, ESQR., D. Q. M. G. 

HEADQUARTERS, 

GREENVILLE, 8 June, 1794. 

SIR: — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 
30th ultimo. — I am much pleased to hear that you have succeeded 
so well in the purchase of cattle & that in your opinion the 

£2 



contractors will be able to supply the troops in the future; but 
this will require at least three hundred head per month independ- 
ent of accident, which number the Contractors have promised to 
supply. — 

You may therefore for the present desist in any further pur- 
chases of cattle than those already made, which I wish you to 
forward with the first escort. — at present we have not more than 
about three weeks supply of the meat kind for the Legion, nor 
can I think of advancing with less than from six to eight hundred 
head of cattle, which would not be more than ten weeks supply 
in advance, should they all arrive safe.— 

The waggons will set out from Fort Jefferson tomorrow morn- 
ing for Fort Washington under a good escort commanded by 
Maj. Hughes they are not to be delayed at that place more 
than 48 hours if possibly to be avoided, — and to be'loaded with all 
the tents, intrenching tools & axes,— such hospital & ordnance 
stores as may be ordered by the heads of those departmts., 
together with all the hunting shirts, & shirts and shoes that 
may be in your possession, also all my own private stores under 
the care of a select guard which you will request Major Hughes 
to furnish from his detachment— You will likewise forward every 
other necessary article in the line of your departmt for the use 
of the Legion. — 

Capt Pierce is directed to divide the detachment lately ar- 
rived under Ens: McClane into two equal divisions, as escorts 
to ply between Forts Washington & Hamilton — say 40 at each 
place : you will therefore make use of as many private teams as 
can be procured which with the use of the water transport when 
a favorable rise may happen in the Miami will enable you to for- 
ward the grain to Fort Hamilton the quantity of which, from the 
enclosed copy of a letter from the Secry. of War to the Q. M. 
Genl you will find to be considerably increased.— it will also 
tend to shew you that there is not a single moment to be lost in 
mounting the Dragoons & furnishing all the necessary ac- 
coutrements that may be wanted for them — such as saddles, bri- 
dles, &c., &c. 

It's probable that Colo. O'Hara may arrive at Fort Wash- 
ington by the time you receive this ; who will undoubtedly come 
forward prepared with Cash.— if not the paymaster Gen. will 
furnish you with two thousand dollars in specie & 8000 in good 
bank bills to be replaced by your department. 

63 



You are clearly & decidedly to understand that every ar- 
rangement must be made in your department for a forward move 
from this post on about the ist of July, agreeably to the enclosed 
copy of a letter to the Contractors of this date, with whom you 
will cordially co-operate in the transport— of flour &c., the trans- 
port to be paid for or repaid as circumstances may hereafter suit . — 
hence you will see the necessity of keeping an exact account of 
all you have already made or that you may occassionally make 
on their account. — 

Wishing you perfect success in your purchases & supplies 
of every nature in the line of your department, 

I am Sir, your most obedt. humble servt. 

ANTY Wayne. 




84 



APPENDIX IV.— FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION 1799. 
^Frota the Western Spy & Hamilton Gazette, Tuesday July 9, 1799) 

" Last Thursday being the fourth of July, it was celebrated 
by the citizens of this town in a manner which does credit to its 
inhabitants, and testifies that they hold in just estimation the 
DAY which gave BIRTH to our NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE. 

" The morning was ushered in by a Federal Salute from Fort 
Washington, the ist Battalion of Hamilton Militia paraded at 
the muster ground in the vicinity of this place, and went through 
the customary evolutions and firings. — As to their performance, we 
only need refer our Readers to the Governors General Orders. — 
After the Battalion was dismissed, the Governor, the Federal 
Officers from Fort Washington, the officers of Militia, and a 
large number of respectable citizens dined under a bower pre- 
pared for that purpose. — Capt. Miller having furnished a piece of 
Artillery, which with Capt. Smith's company of Militia, accom- 
panied by martial music made the woods resound to each of the 
following : 

TOASTS. 

1. The PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.— 
May the display of his firmness and Patriotic Spirit, endear him 
to all who live under his administration. 

2. GENERAL WASHINGTON,the Father and Friend of his 
country. 

3. The ANNIVERSARY we celebrate ; May every year im- 
press on our minds a stronger sense of its consequence -and 
blesssing. 

4. The Memory of those who fought and bled to establish 
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE ; May they never be forgotten. 

5. Our INFANT NAVY; May it add to the Nation's honor 
and wealth and confound her enemies. 

6. The Army of the UNITED STATES. May they stand 
and be ever ready to guard our rights and support our Govern- 
ment. 

7. Our Foreign Ministers. May they be respected as the 
representatives of a great, free and independent people. 

8. PEACE throughout all the world on just principles. 

9. The OFFICERS of the different Departments in the 
General Government— May they be faithful in executing the 
duties of their important stations, 

85 



10. Ihe NORTH WESTERN TERRITORY. 

11. The Fair sex of America.— May their influence lead 
to the happiness of the nation. 

12. Agriculture and Commerce. — May we feel their happy 
effects like the SUN from East to West making a plentiful har- 
vest. 

13. The Old Patriots of Seventy-six; May they retain 
their energy and hand down their principles to the latest pos- 
terity. — 

14. Confusion and Reformation to all designing Bad Men, 
who are endeavoring to mar the peace and prosperity of our 
country. 

15. May the American eagle soar triumphantly when 
danger approaches. 

" In the evening the Gentlemen joined a brilliant Assembly 
of Ladies at Mr. Yeatman's in Town, and it is impossible to de- 
scribe the ecstatic pleasure that appeared to be enjoyed by all 
present at the Celebration of the Auspicious Day, and the 
scene closed in perfect harmony." 




86 



APPENDIX v.— MEMORIAL FUNERAL FOR WASHING- 
TON :— " At 12 o'clock the troops formed on the flat in front of 
the garrison (then under command of Capt. Miller), where they 
were joined by Captain Findlays (and Capt. Browns) troop of 
horse, the Masonic brethern and a large concourse of citizens, all 
eager to testify their high veneration for the character of the 
deceased. The bier was received by the troops formed in lines, 
with presented arms, officers, drums and colors saluting. 

"The procession than moved on in the following order- 
Minute guns firing from the garrison and the music performing a 
solemn dirge. 

Cavalry 
Regular Troops 
Horse, representing that of the General, with saddle, holsters 
and pistols, and boots reversed 

Rev. Mr. Wallace 
Pall Bearers 
To the left of Bier To the right of Bier 

Dr. Sellman Dr. Elliott 

Capt. Prince Maj. Ziegler 

Col. Spencer Major Goforth 

His excellency the Governor and the Attorney General as 
Mourners 

Masonic Brethern 
Militia Officers in Uniform 
Citizens. 
" Having proceeded through different streets, and arrived at 
the place representing that of interment, the military halted, and 
opening their lines, formed an avenue for the bier and those im- 
mediately attendant on it to pass through, the troops leaning on 
reversed arms. 

"The coffin having been deposited in the grave, a prayer 
suitable to the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Wallace, 
after which the Masonic Brethern performed their ceremony. 

" Three discharges of musketry over the grave concluded 
the ceremonies." Western Spy & Gazette of Feb. 5, 1800. 



S7 



APPENDIX VI.— DEPOSITION OF JOHN CLEVES SYMMES. 

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 
DISTRICT OF OHIO. 

December Term 1829. 

Lessee op Hakmer Heirs ) 

vs. > Ejectment. 

GWYNNE AND MORRIS. ) 

(^.268.) 

"Be it remembered that on this seventeenth day of February 
in the year 1809 (pursuant to due notice given him), personally 
appeared before us the subscribing two Associate Judges of the 
Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county aforesaid, James 
Silvers and John Matson, the underwritten deponent, John 
Cleves Symmes, who being examined on oath in the premises, 
in order to perpetuate testimony between Josiah Harmer, Esquire, 
of the State of Pennsylvania, and Ethan Stone, Esquire, of Cin- 
cinnati, in the State of Ohio, of and concerning the purchase of 
eight small lots, commonly called in-lots, lying in the eastern 
part of the Town of Cincinnati, and between the creek or branch 
of water called Deer Creek and the body of the Town of Cin- 
cinnati, or rather the ground heretofore used for a Parade in front 
of the late Fort Washington. This deponent, the said John 
Cleves Symmes, deposeth and saith, that in the fall of the year 
1789, Major John Doughty arrived at Cincinnati with a detach- 
ment of the Army of the United States, and laid the foundation of 
Fort Washington in Cincinnati, that very early in the beginning 
of the year 1790, at the special request of many of the officers 
of the Garrison at that time stationed in Fort Washington, this 
deponent was induced to lay out into small lots of sixty square 
Rods each, a portion of land between said Fort Washington, and 
the aforesaid Parade on the West and the before mentioned Deer 
Creek on the East — this deponent further saith that soon after 
the laying out of the aforesaid small lots, he sold eight of the 
said lots to General Josiah Harmer, at that time Commandant 
of the Garrison in said Fort Washington, at the price of Thirty- 
two pounds, Pennsylvania Currency, which sum of Thirty-two 
pounds this deponent declares was fully paid and satisfied unto 
him by the said purchaser, General Josiah Harmer, the greater 
part thereof in cash, and fifteen dollars thereof by the acceptance 
of an order in favor of Abner Hunt, drawn by this deponent in 



April, 1790, on said General Harmer, and by said Josiah Harmer. 
Paid to said Abner Hunt in full of said Order for said fifteen dol- 
lars, which closed the account of this deponent against the said 
Josiah Harmer for the purchase money of said Eight Lots, which 
eight lots are particularly described and set forth in a deed of 
conveyance of the said eight lots, made sealed and delivered by 
the said John Cleves Symmes to the said General Josiah Har- 
mer by which deed of transfer the title to the said Eight Lots as 
this deponant believes and fully intended in the month of May, 
in the year 1791, (the date of said deed) became vested in the 
said Josiah Harmer. This deponent further saith that from the 
time of the sale of said Eight Lots to the said Josiah Harmer, he, 
this deponent, hath never entertained any idea that the said 
Eight Lots, as described in said deed, was in any degree his prop- 
erty, or that he had any control over them, the said General 
Harmer forthwith taking them into his immediate possession and 
occupancy. Question by Mr. Stone : Was the deed dated and 
executed on the day it purports to have been, to-wit, on the day 
and year therein specified? Ans.: I verily believe it was. Ques- 
tion by Mr. Stone : Was the deed at that time delivered to Gen- 
eral Harmer? Answer: 1 verily believe it was. And further 
this deponent saith not. 

JOHN Cleves Symmes. 
Sworn and subscribed to the day and year first written be- 
fore us. 

JAMES SILVERS, 
JOHN MATSON. 




89 



APPENDIX VII.— Certificate of Joseph Gest. 

(From Book of vSuia-eys in Cincinnati, 1833.) 
James Jackson ex dem. Josiah Harmers Heirs, Plaintiff, ) 

vs. V Ejectment. 

George Morris and David Gwynne, Defendants. ) 

"Pursuant to an order of the Circuit Court of the United 
States, seventh circuit, Ohio District, of December Term, 1828. 
Monday 29. The undersigned surveyor, of the City of Cin- 
cinnati, did on the 9th day of April, 1829, a day fixed by the 
Plaintiff, (David Gwynne, one of the Defendants being sick 
and unable to attend) and on the i6th day of April, inst., a day 
fixed on by the Defendants, the Plaintiff attending proceeded to 
the premises in controversy and surveyed the claims of the 
different parties and examined such and objects as sup- 
posed to have a bearing to prove their respective claims as 
pointed out or suggested by the parties, 1 find the ground in con- 
troversy or ed by Plaintiff to be sixty feet three inches 

on Front Street, running back nortliwarJly, Ilel to Law- 
rence Street, twenty poles or three hundred and thirty feet to the 
second street from the River, called Congress Street. 

Said claim lays immediately westward of and lots 

Number three and twenty-two, of John Cleves Symmes' map, as 
may be fully seen by the annexed map, showing the connection 
and interference of the U. S. Subdivision, Cincinnati, April 27, 
1829. 

Joseph Gest, City Surveyor." 

N. B. The incomplete words occurred in margin which was torn. 



90 



APPENDIX VIII.— Deposition of Joseph Gest. 

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 
DISTRICT OF OHIO. 
December Term, 1829. 
Lessee of Harmer Heirs ) 

vs. > EjECTMEHT. 

GWYNNB AND MORRIS. J 

{p. 291.) 

"Be it remembered that on the seventh day of July 1829 at 
the office of Charles Hammond Esquire in Cincinnati between 
the hours of eight o'clock A. M. and seven o'clock P. M. person- 
ally came before me Enos Woodruff an Associate Judge of the 
County of Hamilton aforesaid, Joseph Gest who being first 
carefully examined cautioned and sworn to testify the whole 
truth to be read in evidence in the above entitled cause, does 
depose and say 

That the annexed plat was made by him as City Surveyor in 
pursuance of an order of Court for that purpose and is a correct 
copy of that returned to Court. Deponent says that he was 
called upon by G- W. Jones to lay out Harmers lots according to 
a decree of Court as he understood as well as he recollects. Mr. 
Jones said they could not make a better of it than to take Ethan 
Stones Statement of the boundaries, and that Mr. Stone would be 
on the ground for that purpose, he also referred me to Mr. Este, 
for the same purpose, who told me about the same, and that Mr. 
Stone did come upon the ground and designated the boundaries, 
and the survey was made accordingly and is described on the map 
by light blue lines and the letters 1. K. N. L. D. M. 

At a subsequent period he was called upon by G. W. Jones or 
Josiah Harmer to fix the point for building the brick house marked 
S. on the plat at the intersection of Front and Ludlow Streets 
and he fixed the corner where the house is now built. He 
believes the house was built by or for the heirs of Harmer. Sub- 
sequently to the time of fixing the corner, Deponent further says 
that Mr. Jones went with him on the ground in company with 
Mr. Stone but is not certain that he was there when the 
survey was made. He recollects no difference between Mr. Jones 
and Mr. Stone at the time as to the situation of the ground. Mr. 
Jones did not pretend to have any personal knowledge of the 
situation of the lots. After the survey according to the blue 
lines was made in pursuance to the decree he handed it to Mr. 
Jones while standing on the steps of the U. States Bank. 

JOSEPH GEST," 

91 



APPENDIX IX.— DEPOSITION OF DANIEL DRAKE. 

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 

DISTRICT OF OHIO. 

December Term, 1829. 

Lessee of Harmer Heirs ) 

vs > Ejectment. 

GwrNNE AND Morris. \ 
(p. 291.) 

"Be it remembered that on the seventh day of July 1829 at 
the office of Charles Hammond Esquire in Cincinnati between the 
hours of eight o'clock A. M. and seven o'clock P. M. personally 
came before me Enos Woodruff as Associate Judge of the 
County of Hamilton aforesaid, Joseph Gest who being first care- 
fully examined cautioned and sworn to testify the whole truth to 
be read in evidence in the above entitled cause, does depose and 
say." »•»**** 

(p.m.) 

"Same time and place came Daniel Drake, who likewise 
being carefully examined cautioned and sworn to testify the 
whole truth does depose and say. I was present on the scite of old 
Fort Washington at the time that Joseph Gest the City Sur\'ey- 
or made a survey of the foundation of that Fort a plat and 
description of which is now before me, and I believe that the line 
and angles of said Fort as laid down by him are accurate as it is 
possible to fix them, Question. How is it that you are able to tes- 
tify to this fact? Answer. 1 once lived in the rooms that were occu- 
pied by the Commander of the Garrison, this was in 1802 or 3, and 
afterward in 1808 when the reserve was sold by the Govern- 
ment, I purchased several lots which included the S. E Angle 
and Block house and built upon the same, where I resided, from 
1812 to 1823, during which period the foundations of the Fort 
were everywhere to be seen and could be compared with the lines 
and corners of the lots and streets, finally in preparing a plat of 
the town, for the picture of Cincinnati in 1814 I took great care 
and pains to lay down the scite of the Fort correctly and find that 
the plat made by Mr. Gest corresponds almost exactly with it. 
Question by the Defendants. How did Fort Washington front 
and where was the principal Gateway? Answer. It fronted lo 
the South, a little inclining to the east. The whole Soutli Front 
was on the South side of Front street, but not exactly parallel to 
it. The South West Block-house was farther from the street 
than the South East. The Great Gate was I believe in tlie 
centre of the South line of Block-houses. Question by the Defend- 
ants. What would be the location of four lots, the calls for 
which were lying directly in front of Fort Washington ? Answer. 
They must all be between Ludlow Street and Broadway, that is 
West of Ludlow Street. 

DANIEL DRAKE." 

92 



APPENDIX X.— DEPOSITION OF WILLIAM BERRY. 

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 
DISTRICT OF OHIO. 

December Term, 1829. 

Lessee of Harmer Heirs) 

vs. |- Ejectment, 

GWYNNE AND MORRIS. ) 

(/. 876.) 

"Be it remembered that on the 31st. day of March, 1829, 
before me, Enos Woodruff, one of the Associate Judges of the 
Court of Common Pleas for Hamilton County, in the State of 
Ohio, came Christopher Cary." 



(A S77.) 

"Same time came William Berry, who in like manner, being 
carefully examined, cautioned and sworn, deposeth and saith : 
That he came to Cincinnati the spring after St. Clairs defeat 
with a detachment of troops, and was put in the Garrison and 
stayed there for about one year. Understood there were lots on 
the bottom called General Harmer 's lots. They lay the upper 
side of what is now called Ludlow Street. Question by Plain- 
tiff's counsel : Will you state whether you were acquainted where 
Ludlow Street now runs? Answer: I do. 1 helped make it. 
Question by same : Will you state if you can what number of 
lots situated on the bottom you understood belonged to General 
Harmer? Answer : I cannot say how many, but understood he 
had lots there. Witness says as early as 1795 or thereabouts he 
was acquainted with an old cellar not a great way beiow Ruffins 
Corner, between the Columbia road and the River — was acquaint- 
ed with the situation of the summer house on the hill, thinks it 
stood on Strongs lot — has been on the ground to-day and meas- 
ured the distance from the town blockhouse near Drakes Corner 
to where he believes the summer house stood— the distance is 
about one hundred and thirty feet eastwardly. Drakes Corner 
is the corner of Third and Ludlow Street — said blockhouse stood 
on Drakes Corner. Q. by Defendants : Did you ever see 
the lots on the bottom called Harmers lots surveyed? Ans- 
wer : No, I never did. Question : How then do you know 
that Harmers lots on the bottom were located above or east- 
wardly of what is now called Ludlow street ? Answer : I never 
knew where they were located except by hearsay from other 
people. 

his 
WILLIAM X Berry." 

mark 
93 



APPENDIX XI.— Deposition of William H. Orcutt. 

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UN'ITED STATES FOR THE 
DISTRICT OF OHIO. 
December Term, 1829. 
Lessee of Harmer Heirs ) 

vs. V Ejectment. 

Gwynne and Morris. ) 

" Be it remembered that on the 31st day of Mnrch 1S29, be- 
fore me Enos Woodruff one of the Associate Judj^es of tiie 
Court of Common Pleas for Hamilton County in the Slate of 
Ohio came Christopher Cary." 

»-x- #»■»•*«* 

(p. S77.) 

" Same time and place came William H. Orcutt who also 
was carefully examined and cautioned and sworn to testify the 
whole truth deposes and says : He came to Cincinnati in the 
year 1789 in the month of August with other troops. Soon after 
they proceed to clear the ground and build the blockhouses, 
in Fort Washington. Staid in Cincinnati 3 or 4 months, was 
then sent off on command and staid 8 months and then re- 
turned to Cincinnati. Was well acquainted with the situation 
of the Garrison and the blockhouses ; there were four block- 
houses in the Garrison one at each corner and one in the Artifi- 
cers yard ; have this day been on the ground where the Gar- 
rison stood and was in my own mind able to fix the corners. 
The Southeast blockhouse stood on Drakes Corner at the junc- 
tion of Ludlow and Third street. There was a kind of trace 
coming up from the river on the the east side of the Garrison. 
VVitnqss further says that when on the ground this day he 
pointed out to Air. Gest where the Summer house stood. - There 
was a place on the river called the iStone Landing 10 or 15 rods 
below Ruffins Corner, was acquainted with a man by the name 
of Jones who was about the Garrison who cultivated a garden 
near the Summer house for General Harmer and had free access 
to the Garrison. Question by Defendants Counsel. What was 
the position of the blockhouse in the Artificers yard, in relation 
to the Garrison? Answer. It was to the west of Garrison. 
The Artificers yard was somewhat in the form of a triangle and 
the blockhouse was on the western corner of the triangle. 
Q. by same. What width do you estimate the Garrison to have 
been? Answer. About 120 feet, there were six barrack rooms 
in each rov/, of about 20 feet each. Q. by same. How long 
since you have been on the ground before last week ? Answer. 
About 30 years, and further saith not. 

WM. H. ORCUTT. 

Mr. Orcutt further states that there were three barrack 
rooms on each side of the gate fronting the river 

WM. H. ORCUTT. 

94 



APPENDIX XII.— DEPOSITION OF DAVID LEWIS. 

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 

DISTRICT OF OHIO. 

December Term, 1829. 

Lessee of Warmer Heirs) 

vs V Ejectment, 

GWYNNE AND MoRRIS. ) 

(/. S74.) 

" Be it remembered that on the 31st day of March 1829 at 
the office of Casewell and Starr in Cincinnati before me Enos 
Woodruff an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas 
of the County of Hamilton and State of Ohio, came David 
Lewis exceeding the age of sixty years and after being carefully 
examined cautioned and sworn to testify the whole truth, 
deposeth and saith. 



(/>. 275.) 

" Question by same : Was the front of Fort Washington 
between Broadway and the first street east of Broadway and 
running parallel to it? Answer: Fort Washington fronted the 
river and was on the east side of Broadway. Question by 
Plaintiff's Counsel. A map is now shown you with the name 
of Thomas Henderson on it, have you examined that 
map and does it correctly denote the situation of the block- 
house, Ruffins Corner and other objects according to your 
recollection when you first knew their situation. Answer. I 
have examined the map and it does denote the situation of 
the four blockhouses. Ruffms Corner, the cellar and the summer 
house agreeably to my memory and recollections. Question by 
same. Will you state whether within a day or two past you 
have been upon the ground to point out the former situation of 
those objects according to your recollection. Answer. I was. 
Question by same. Will you state whether you were able in 
your own mind to fix upon those objects as you believe 
them to have been without consulting others? Answer. Yes I 
was. I pointed out their situation without consulting others. 
Quesiion by Defts. Counsel. Did not the four blockhouses 
that originally stood in the four corners of the Garrison 
form accordins to the best of your recollection a square? Answer. 
They appeared so. Question by same. Was not the two West 
blockhouses on aline of what was then called Eastern Row? 
Answer. They both stood on the east side of what was called 
the Eastern Row and some distance from it. 

**«***f* 

David Lewis." 

96 



APPENDIX xill.— Deposition of Griffin yeatman. 

CIRCUIT court of THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 
DISTRICT OF OHIO. 
December Term, 1829. 
Lessee of Harmer Heirs i 

vs. > Ejectment. 

GWYNNE AND MORRIS. ) 

(/. t78.) 

"Be it remembered that on the first day of May, 1820 before 
me Enos Woodruff one of the Associate Judges of the Court of 
Common Pleas for the County of Hamilton and State of Ohio, 
came Jacob White." 
(/. 280.) 

"Same time and place came Griffin Yeatman who being first 
carefully examined cautioned and sworn to testify the whole 
truth does depose and say. Question. Who was the reputed 
owner of the lots on half block directly west of Ruffins Corner 
situated on Front and Lawrence Street in the year 1791 or about 
that time? I came to Cincinnati in the year 1793 and in that 
year 1 understood that General Josiah Harmer was the owner 
of lots lying west of what is called Ruffins Corner. Ques- 
tion by same. Did you understand that General Harmers lots 
lay immediately west and near to Ruffins Corner, or did they 
belong to some one else, and if to any other person to whom 
did they belong? There was a cellar dug on the lots west 
of Ruffins Corner called St. Clairs Cellar, but never heard 
of any one owning lots here but General Harmer, the cellar is 
laid down upon the map of Mr. Gest which is now before me. 
and agreeable to my impression it is correct or nearly so as to its 
east and west position. GRIFFIN YEATMAN." 

The United States of America, 
Southern District of Ohio, 
Western Division. 
1, BENJAMIN R. COWEN, CLERK of the CIRCUIT COURT 

of the United states of America, within and for the Dis- 
trict and DIVISION aforesaid, do hereby certify that the fore- 
5oing Entries, being the sworn statements, respectively, of 
ohn Cleves Symmes, February 17, 1809 [Appendix VI]; Joseph 
Gest, July 7, 1829 [Appendix Vlll]; Daniel Drake, July 7, 1829 
[Appendix IX]; William Berry, March 31, 1820 [Appendix X]; 
Wm. H. Orcutt, March 31, 1829 [Appendix Xl]; David Lewis, 
March 31, 1829 [Appendix XII]; and Griffin Yeatman, May i, 
1829 [Appendix XIll]; all presented in this Court at the Decem- 
ber Term, 1829, are truly taken and correctly copied from the 
Journal of said Court. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF. 1 have hereunto set my Hand 
and affixed the seal of said Court at the city of Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, this261h day of May. A. D. 1902, and in 
[SEAL] the one hundred and twenty-sixth year of the Inde- 
pendence of the United States of America. 

B. R. COWEN, CLERK. 
96 



APPENDIX XIV. — EARLY CINCINNATI AND FORT 
WASHINGTON: — "Between Eastern-row (a narrow street now 
enlarged into Broadway) and Main-Street, on Front and 
Columbia Streets, there were about twenty log houses; and on 
Sycamore and Main, principally on the second bank, or hill, as it 
was called, there were scattered about fifteen cabins more. At 
the foot of this bank, extending across Broadway and Main 
Streets, were large ponds, on which as lately as the winter of 
1798, I have seen boys skating. All the ground from the foot of 
the second bank to the river, between Lawrence-Street and 
Broadway, and appropriated to the Fort, was an open space, on 
which, although no trees were left standing, most of their large 
trunks were still lying. On the top, and about eighty feet dis- 
tant from the brow of the second bank, facing the river, stood 
Fort Washington, occupying nearly all the ground between 
Third and Fourth Streets, and between Ludlow— Street and 
Broadway. This fort, of nearly a square form, was simply a 
wooden fortification, whose four sides or walls, each about one 
hundred and eighty feet long, were constructed of hewed logs, 
erected into barracks two stories high, connected at the corners 
by high pickets, with bastions or blockhouses, also of hewed logs, 
and projecting about ten feet in front of each side of tlie fort, 
so that the cannon placed within them could be brought to rake 
its walls. Through the centre of the south side, or front of the 
fort, was the principal gateway, a passage through this line of 
barracks, about twelve feet wide and ten feet high, secured by 
strong wooden doors of the same dimensions. Appended to the 
fort on its north side, and enclosed with high palisades extending 
from its north-east and north-west corners to a blockhouse, was a 
small triangular space, in which were constructed shops for the 
accommodation of the artificers. [This Artificers' Yard, as was 
established by testimony offered in the United States Court in 
1829, was on the west, not north, side.] Extending along the 
whole front of the fort, was a fine esplanade, about eighty 
feet wide and enclosed with a handsome paling on the brow of 
the bank; the descent from which, to the lower bottom, was slop- 
ing, about thirty feet." 

(From "A True Narrative of the Capture of Rev. O. M. Speucer by 
the Indians," p. 27.) 



97 



APPENDIX XV.— THE TROLLOPE FAMILY IN AMERICA. 
— Mrs. Trollope, with her two daughters and a son, sailed from 
London on the 4th of November, 1827. After a tedious voyage 
extending over fifty-one days, the ship reached the mouth of the 
Mississippi on Christmas Day, and in the following February 
the party reached Cincinnati. 

Of the plans then formed, Mr. Thomas Adolphus Trollope 
wrote: "It was determined, by the advice of what Cincinnati 
friends I know not, that he (Henry Trollope) should join my 
mother there, and undertake the establishment and conduct of 
an institution which, so far as I was able to understand the plan, 
was to combine the specialties of an Athenaeum, a lecture hall, 
and bazaar ; and it was when this enterprise had been decided 
upon, but before any steps had been taken for the realizing of it, 
that I accompanied my father on a visit to America." According 
to this arrangement, Mr. Thomas Anthony Trollope, Barrister-at- 
Law, and his son, Thomas Adolphus, taking steerage passage in 
the ship Corinthian, sailed from England in September, 1828, and 
joined the other members of the family in Cincinnati. 

The deed which conveyed the land upon which the bazaar 
was built, reads as follows : "This indenture, made the twenty- 
first (21) day of January, in the Year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and twenty-nine, by and between Jared Mansfield, 
Esq., of the City of Cincinnati in the State of Ohio, and Eliza- 
beth, his wife of the first part, and Thomas Anthony Trollope of 
the Middle Temple, London, Barrister-at-Law, of the second 
part." The consideration named in the deed is $1,655.00, and 
the conveyance is for "All that plat, piece or parcel of ground 
situate on the south side of Third Street near Broadway in the 
city of Cincinnati aforesaid, being lot number seven of square 
number two." 

Anthony Trollope wrote of the building: "And the bazaar 
was built, I have seen it since in the town of Cincinnati — a sorry 
building." This, however, was after the enterprise had been 
overtalcen by misfortune, which indeed came quickly enough. 
On the i8th of November. 182Q, a mortgage was recorded against 
the building by a firm which had furnished hardware and other 
material, set forth in their bill in sums ranging from ten cents 
upvvard. As a foil to the "pins, pocket-knives and pepper 
boxes" of which Anthony Trollope wrote so derisively, we find 
the family sternly confronted with a demand for the payment of 



a bill for nails, sand paper and screws. These little insignificant 
details of house construction were likely to prove the ruin of the 
grand enterprise, but somehow the financial difficulties were 
temporarily tided over and the building was completed. 

The bazar was of brick and stone, about thirty-four feet in 
width, as shown by the old records, and in depth, covering the 
greater portion of lot "number seven," now occupied by the 
western part of "The Lorraine," on the south side of Third 
Street a little east of Broadway. 

The Trollopes had some warm friends in Cincinnati, and 
while embittered by pecuniary losses, one of the family wrote 
with interest of meeting local celebrities — Hiram Powers, the 
sculptor, and Nicholas Long worth, as well as of the private the- 
atricals at the house of Doctor and Mrs. Price. The grand 
scheme for making the family fortunes was destined to fail 
because of want of capital, and a total lack of experience in con- 
ducting business affairs. Mrs. Trollope wrote, in 1832: "We 
quitted Cincinnati in the beginning of March, 1830, and I believe 
there was not one of our party who did not experience a sensation 
of pleasure in leaving it." 




99 



APPENDIX XVI.— ARRIVAL OF GOVERNOR ST. CLAIR 
AT Cincinnati.— On the 3rd of January, 1790, a party of set- 
tlers landed at Cincinnati,among whom was Benjamin Van Cleve 
one of the founders of Dayton, Ohio. He states that on the pre- 
ceding day (January 2) General St Clair, the Governor, had 
arrived. Having issued a proclamation erecting the County of 
Hamilton, he appointed judges and justices of the peace for the 
county. The building of Fort Washington was still in progress, 
but it was already occupied by four companies of infantry com- 
manded respectively by Strong, Pratt, Kersey, and Kingsbury, 
and by Fords company of Artillery^ 

Memorandum— Benj, Van Cleve, Amer. Pioneer, Vol. 2, p 148. 




100 



